Casuistical morning-exercises the fourth volume /

Lastly, The sinner slights the power of God. This attribute renders God a dreadful Judge. He has a right to punish, and power to revenge ⟨p. 244⟩every transgression of his Law. His judicial power is supreme, his executive is irresistible. He can with one stroke dispatch the Body to the Grave, and the Soul to Hell, and make Men as miserable as they are sinful. Yet sinners as boldly provoke him, as if there were no danger. We read of the infatuated Syrians, that they thought that God the Protector of Israel, had only power on the Hills, and not in the Valleys, and renewed the War to their destruction. Thus sinners enter into the lists with God, and range an Army of lusts against the Armies of Heaven, and blindly bold run upon their own destruction. They neither believe his all-seeing Eye, nor all-mighty Hand. They change the glory of the living God into a dead Idol, that has Eyes and sees not, and Hands and handles not, and accordingly his threatenings make no impression upon them.

Lastly, The sinner slights the power of God. This attribute renders God a dreadful Judge. He has a right to punish, and power to revenge ⟨p. 244⟩every transgression of his Law. His judicial power is supreme, his executive is irresistible. He can with one stroke dispatch the Body to the Grave, and the Soul to Hell, and make Men as miserable as they are sinful. Yet sinners as boldly provoke him, as if there were no danger. We read of the infatuated Syrians, that they thought that God the Protector of Israel, had only power on the Hills, and not in the Vallies, and renewed the War to their destruction. Thus sinners enter into the lists with God, and range an Army of lusts against the Armies of Heaven, and blindly bold run upon their own destruction. They neither believe his all-seeing Eye, nor all-mighty Hand. They change the glory of the living God into a dead Idol, that has Eyes and sees not, and Hands and handles not, and accordingly his threatnings make no impression upon them.

Thus I have presented a true view of the evil of sin considered in it self: but as Job saith of God, how little a portion of him is known? May be said of the evil of sin, how little of it is known? For in proportion as our apprehensions are defective and below the greatness of God, so are they of the evil of sin that contradicts his Sovereign will and dishonours his excellent perfections.