much for Him who had made them what they were. God had not been a wilderness to them, but the dispenser of their comforts, their portion, and joy; nor could they have rebelled against him from any other spirit than a desperate determination to have their own will in opposition to his, to raise the standard of revolt, and at all hazards to establish a kingdom of their own. They forsook their Father's house, merely from a revolting and proud spirit. They "sinned in heaven, the last place in the universe where there was any excuse for sin." They sinned as proudly, as enviously, as obdurately, as maliciously as it was possible to sin. And they sinned in view of the most fearful con sequences, without the least expectation of reprieve or hope of pardon, and with no other design than that of perpetuating their hostility to God through the succeeding ages of time, and the unwasting ages of eternity.

Such was their first revolt,-the first revolt in the universe of God. Probably there is no world in which a revolt could have taken place with more fearful results, and which could have made more exacting demands of the resources of the allknowing and all-sufficient Deity. It was a revolt which would hold on its course for countless ages; which would be an example to all worlds; the consequences of which would be seen and spoken of in the endless future; and from whose unfath

omable depths, the voice of instruction would go up that would make the ear of him that heareth it to tingle. Well did the prophet exclaim, "How art thou fallen, O Lucifer, son of the morning!" When Babylon fell, the merchants of the earth wept and mourned over her, and the kings of the earth stood afar off, and said, "Alas! alas! that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour she is made desolate." Thus might the intelligent universe, standing afar off, have lifted up their voice and wept over the fall of this mighty and exalted race-these bright and morning-stars, displaced and wandering throughout the vast expanse, disregarding the law which binds them to their Great Centre-falling promiscuously, and sinking to "the blackness of darkness.!"

The consequences of this revolt were serious. It was a fearful fall, and a fearful punishment. God measures the punishment of sin by its true and proper demerit; and therefore we are told that "he spared not the angels that sinned." Though angels, he did not spare them. Though his firstborn children, though so munificently endowed and highly exalted, though so holy and happy, he could not endure such a revolt as this. Though they were the most exalted of his creation, and the noblest image of their Creator, and though, if any creatures can be dear to God and the objects of his love, they were so endeared; yet sooner

would he abandon his throne than not exact from such deliberate, scornful, and malicious rebels, the utmost they deserved. He was the God of love; but there were others to be cared for beside these reckless traitors to his government. He had no malice in his bosom, no spirit of revenge to gratify, and no pleasure in their death; yet well did he know that any departure from strict justice in this early instance of rebellion, would be an impeachment of his rectitude, a blow against his government which it could never survive. His truth, his justice, his holiness, and all the glory which illuminated heaven, would have vanished into night, had he hesitated to execute his law, and reward these early and invincible offenders, every one according to his deeds.

The process with them was summary and decisive. He began the work of punitive justice by banishing them from heaven. Distinguished as they were, since they would be disobedient and rebellious, heaven was no place for them; they could no longer remain in that holy and happy world, and companions of that holy and happy society. Their sin was a complete and everlasting forfeiture of all the blessedness of that glorious state and place. Heaven was too pure and holy to contain such offenders; for there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth. They must go out. They must depart accursed. They

could not be suffered to be there to awaken disgust and abhorrence, nor to become the tempters of the unfallen. And this decree was executed without delay. There was no inquiry instituted; no trial, and no defence. God saw the crime, and he cast them out. He gave them no space for repentance; for the first sin he cast them out, without allowing them time or opportunity for a second revolt this side their everlasting retribution.

Not only did God banish them from heaven, but he cast them down to hell. There was no such place as hell in the universe, until the fall of the angelic race. Then it was the mighty Architect laid the foundations and built the walls of this lurid, fiery prison, and there treasured up his magazines of wrath. Far away, where the light of mercy never shines, did he fit up those dark and melancholy regions-that wretched state of existence that world of desolation and despair, the very thought of which awakens anguish, and fills the mind with horror.

This horrid, everlasting hell now became the habitation of these fallen spirits. They left their own habitation of holiness and joy for this deep dwelling of pollution and wickedness, of mourning, lamentation and woe. They were driven from the face of God into the burning lake; and now, that many a thousand century has passed away, there they still lie engulfed in flames, and

the smoke of their torments ascends forever and

ever.

This may seem to us a severe sentence. But God will vindicate this procedure in that day when he shall judge the world in righteousness. We are told in the Scriptures, that he "delivered them to chains of darkness to be reserved unto judgment." What the judgment is, to which they are thus reserved, we learn from the more explicit representation of the apostle Jude, "The angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day." Creatures may not hold the great God accountable; but the great God holds himself accountable even to creatures. His plans are vast and comprehensive plans. The fact here revealed is, that the fallen angels are bound over as criminals, and reserved to take their public trial at the day of judgment, when the sentence will be openly pronounced, and finally executed. I say finally executed; for, though their doom is inevitable, for wise reasons God defers the extremity of their punishment. Other parts of the sacred writings instruct us, that these apostate spirits are still invisible agents in this world; that they are conversant with men; exert their power and influence upon the human mind; and as "roaring lions, go about seeking whom they may devour." God is