2 Thessalonians 1:8

8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

Ver. 8. In flaming fire ] Natural fire, 2 Peter 3:6-7 , whereby the elements shall melt like scalding lead upon the wicked, while they give account with all the world on a flaming fire about their ears. Of this last dreadful fire the very heathen had some blind notions. Esse quoque in fatis meminit, &c. (Ovid, Metam. lib. i.) Lucretius and Cicero (De Nat. Deor.) say somewhat to it, but little to the purpose.

And that obey not the gospel ] This is the grand sin of this age,John 3:19; John 3:19 . No sin will gripe so in hell as this. This will be a bodkin at the heart one day, I might have been delivered, but I have wilfully cut the throat of my poor soul by refusing those rich offers of mercy made me in the gospel.