Casuistical morning-exercises the fourth volume /

Now that the Punishment of Vice and Suppression of profaneness is a special part of the work and duty of their place, is evident from this, Rom. 13.4. He is the Minister of God, an avenger to execute wrath upon him that doth evil. Let the man be what and who he will, let him be clothed with what circumstances he will, let him make what Figure he will, if he will do evil he must suffer for the evil that he doth. If men will take a lawless Liberty, the Ruler must take vengeance, if they will do the evil of Sin, He must see to it that they suffer the evil of Punishment. This is the work of his Office, He is the Minister of God for this purpose, being ultor irae divinae, and having a vial of wrath put into his hand by the Sovereign Lord of Heaven and Earth, which he is to open and pour out upon the Children of disobedience, who are, for their being such, meritoriously filii irae, the Children of wrath.

Now that the Punishment of Vice and Suppression of prophaneness is a special part of the work and duty of their place, is evident from this, Rom. 13.4. He is the Minister of God, an avenger to execute wrath upon him that doth evil. Let the man be what and who he will, let him be cloathed with what circumstances he will, let him make what Figure he will, if he will do evil he must suffer for the evil that he doth. If men will take a lawless Liberty, the Ruler must take vengeance, if they will do the evil of Sin, He must see to it that they suffer the evil of Punishment. This is the work of his Office, He is the Minister of God for this purpose, being ultor irae divinae, and having a vial of wrath put into his hand by the Soveraign Lord of Heaven and Earth, which he is to open and pour out upon the Children of disobedience, who are, for their being such, meritoriously filii irae, the Children of wrath.

Thirdly, Profaneness is of that cursed Nature and Tendency, that it is not to be tolerated, being contrary to the Light and Law of Nature, and therefore hath been condemned and punished among Heathen Nations, specially such of them as have been civilized, and made any improvement of those [Greek or Hebrew], common Notions, and Principles that had been impressed upon their Souls, and took any care to demean and carry themselves according to the ducture and guidance of them. How much more contrary is it to the greater and more excellent Light of Scripture and Gospel-revelation, which God hath caused to so eminent a degree to shine among us, and which doth so expressly and abundantly condemn, and denounce the Wrath of God against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men? Who can sufficiently tell how odious it is to Persons who are moralized, and yet more to all them who have been savingly enlightened, and had their