The lost soul's first day in eternity!

(J.M. Humphrey, 1912)

Luke 16:22-24, "The rich man also died and was buried. In Hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him: Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire."

At last I am in Hell. In spite of all my resolutions not to go, I am here to suffer the just demands of a broken law. O God, can it be that I, who has been taught the way of truth, virtue and Heaven--should choose sin, Hell and eternal damnation?

Death and judgment are passed. The time of repentance has slipped away. Mercy's door is forever shut. I would not heed the warning voice of God, though it thundered in my ears night and day from my cradle to my grave. I hardened my heart and said, "I will not yield!"

At last death came. I tried to repent, but my heart refused to shed a tear. I passed into eternity, a damned soul.

The worm that never dies has coiled its slimy folds around my naked heart, and in it fastened its venomous fangs.

Merciful God, pity me. But the white-winged angel of mercy has flown away forever.

The fiends with their bony hands are grasping for my defenseless soul. Away, you demons, you shall not touch me, you shall not have my soul.

Ah, they have me at last! It is useless for me to resist. Is there none to deliver? None, great God, none! I turned my back on You, now You refuse to hear my cry of anguish. The flames of damnation are wrapping my soul in shrouds of eternal misery!

O that I had a drop of water to quench this raging thirst that consumes me, but there is no water here.

Devils laugh at my agony and exultantly shout: Enjoy the wages of sin, FOREVER!

O God, I have been here but one short hour and have suffered more than a thousand tongues can tell; and must I forever suffer thus? Through the ceaseless ages yet to come, must I still suffer on?

Yes, it is forever! FOREVER!

The darkness is intense, broken only by the lurid flashes of divine wrath that are thrown like thunderbolts from the hand of a just God! I grope in the darkness to find Him, but plunge over the precipice of despair, onto the rocks below.

Bruised and mangled I rise and stagger on in search of friends, but none are found. All are my enemies. I scream for help and the only answer is the echo of my own sad cry, and the yells of delight from the throats of demons.

Alone! Yet multitudes are here; they gnash on me with their teeth; they trample me under their feet. I struggle to rise, and they dash me into the lake of everlasting fire.

Alone! Yes, alone! Without God, without hope, without Heaven. O that I had a moment in which to repent, but it will never be given. I have sealed my own doom. God's mercy was extended; I refused until too late. Now Eternal Justice is being satisfied. 'Tis just. God is love and just and holy. He is righteous, but I am guilty, damned--and that righteously.