4. The execution, in case of failing in our duty, is terrible beyond expression. Because this is the main circumstance, and is at the bottom of all, I shall a little dilate upon it, not to affright you with needless perplexities, but in compassion to your souls, God knoweth. I shall take the rise thus: the object of all fear is some evil apj)roach- ing ; now the greater the evil is, the nearer it approacheth, the more certain and inevitable it is, and the more it concerneth ourselves, the more cause of fear there is ; all these concur in the business in hand.
[1.] The execution bringeth on the greatest evil ; the evil of punish- ment, and the greatest punishment, the wrath of God, the wrath of the eternal judge, who can and will cast body and soul into eternal fire. This was due to all by the first covenant, and will be the portion of impenitent sinners by the second: Heb. x. 31, ' It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.' Mark, first, obstinate and impenitent sinners do immediately fall into the hands of God ; a metaphor taken from one that is fallen into the hands of an enemy who lieth in wait for him, to take full revenge upon him ; if he catch him, he is sure to pay for it. Now we are let alone, but then we fall into his hands, and he will be righted for all the wrongs which we have done him. Now, when God shall have an inmiediate hand in the punishment of the wicked, it will make it terrible indeed. When God punisheth by the creature, he can put a great deal of strength into the creature, to overwhelm us, by hail, locusts, flies, frogs ; if they
94 SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V. [SeR. XVIII.
come of God's errand they are terrible ; but a bucket cannot contain an ocean ; as a giant striking with a straw in his hand, he cannot put forth all his strength; when God punisheth by creatures, it is like a giant's striking with a straw in his hand. But now by himself, we fall into his own hands. Again observe, it is the living God. God liveth himself, and continueth the life of the creature. God liveth for ever to reward his friends, and punish his adversaries. A mortal man cannot extend punishment beyond death ; when they have killed the body they can do no more. Mat. x. 28. We are mortal, and they that persecute and hate us are mortal. But since he liveth to all eternity, he can punish to all eternity. So long as God is God, so long will hell be hell. It is tedious to think of a short fit of pain. In a feverish distemper we count not only hours but minutes ; when in such a dis- temper we cannot sleep in the night, how tedious and grievous is it to us ! But what will it be to fall into the hands of the living God ? Thirdly, The apostle saith, ei? x^^P^'^ Qeov. The wrath of God is no vain scare-crow, and if anvuiing be matter of terror, the terror of the Lord is so. But, alas, who consider it, or mind this ? Ps. xc. 11, ' Who knoweth the power of his anger ? According to his fear, so is his wrath.' Who layeth it to heart, so as to be sensible of his own danger, while he is permitted to live? We divert our thoughts by vain pleasures, as Saul cured the evil spirit by music. The delights of the flesh benumb the conscience, and exclude all thoughts of eternity. Again it is called wrath to come, Mat. iii. 7 ; and, 1 Thes. i. 10. It is so called to denote the certaint}'', and the terribleness of it. The certainty of it ; it M'ill most certainly come upon the wicked ; the day is not foretold, but it is a-coming ; wrath hovereth over our heads, it is every day nearer, as the salvation of the elect is, Bom. xiii. 4. A pari, whether we sleep or wake, we are all a step nearer, a day nearer, a night nearer, to eternity. They that are in a ship are swiftly carried on to their port by the wind, though they know it not ; security showeth it is coming on apace : ' Whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not,' 2 Peter ii. 3. They sleep, but their damnation sleepeth not. But, secondly, it is called wrath to come in regard of the terribleness of it. There is a present wrath that men suffer, and there is a wrath to come ; this is such a wrath, as never was before ; present wrath may be slighted, but wrath to come will stick close: Jer. v. 3, * I have stricken them, but they have not grieved.' There is a senseless stupidness under judg- ments now, but then men cannot have hard or insensible hearts if they would. Present wrath may be reversed, but men are then in their final estate, and God will deal with them upon terms of grace no more. Present wrath seizeth not upon the whole man, the body suffereth that the soul may be saved, but there body and soul are cast into hell. Present wrath is executed by the creatures, but in the other world God is all in all. Present wrath is mixed with comforts, but there it is an evil, and only an evil, Ezek. vii. 5. There is no wicked man in the day of God's patience but hath somewhat left him, but there they shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out with- out mixture, Eev. xiv. 10. It is not allayed and tempered with any mercies. There is a difference in duration ; present wrath cndeth