(7) He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. (8) But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Our Lord, within the compass of these two verses, hath marked the striking difference between his people, and the ungodly. Oh! who shall describe the properties of grace? What heart hath ever entered into the Arcana of the divine counsels? In the mass of Adam-nature here are some, whom the Lord calls his children, his jewels, his chosen; adopting them into his family, acknowledging himself to be their God, and they his people. And here are others, whose nature, void of grace, are manifested to be in the fearful state of servile bondsmen to Satan, whose portion is with Satan forever, in the lake which burneth with fire. This is the second death; meaning an everlasting separation from the presence of God and the Lamb. - Reader! pause over the solemn view. And, if so be, God hath granted you the quickenings of His Holy Spirit, on whom the second death hath no power; look up with me, and cry out, in words similar to the astonished Apostle: Lord! how is it that thou hast manifested thyself unto us, and not unto the world? John 14:1.