Two discourses I. of the punishment of sin in hell, demonstrating the wrath of…

2. The second Assertion, That it is also requisite, yea, necessary, (I speak it, as in relation to Justice attaining its ends.) For all mediate Punishments executed by Creatures being deficient, as unto that wherein the very Essence of this Punishment lies they all not reaching the Inwards of the Spirit of the Mind and Conscience; and seeing that without God's wrath revealed therewith by God himself, all such Punishments would not complete the Justice of God in a Punishment in any tolerable measure suitable. Then if Justice will have its perfect work, and bring its Suit against the Sinner unto the ultimate issue, it is requisite God himself put his immediate hand to the execution. For otherwise this Work of Justice will not be perfect, (as yet every of his Works in their kind are said to be). And so he should not only fall short of satisfying his Justice, but also by not doing that towards it which is in his power to do, and which he is Lord of, he should not in any tolerable measure content it. Especially, if we further consider, that when all is done that can be done, this Punishment will not arise to a perfect satisfaction (for the Creature's punishment will not afford it, and therefore it doth for ever suffer) but only unto what ⟨p. 105⟩may be had out of them towards it. I shut this Point up therefore with this, that If God be Judg Himself, he will do this work Himself, which none else can perform for him; and without which all else would be utterly imperfect and defective. For, upon what hath been afore argued, I may say of all other Punishments and Punishers (although set by God upon a Man) what the Apostle says of those legal Ordinances (though instituted by God for his Worship) That they could not make the Service perfect, as pertaining to the Conscience. So, nor all outward Torments, take them alone without God's Wrath accompanying them, they cannot make a perfect or complete Punishment as pertaining to the Conscience.

2. The second Assertion, That it is also requisite, yea, necessary, (I speak it, as in relation to Justice attaining its ends.) For all mediate Punishments executed by Creatures being deficient, as unto that wherein the very Essence of this Punishment lies they all not reaching the Inwards of the Spirit of the Mind and Conscience; and seeing that without God's wrath revealed therewith by God himself, all such Punishments would not compleat the Justice of God in a Punishment in any tolerable measure suitable. Then if Justice will have its perfect work, and bring its Suit against the Sinner unto the ultimate issue, it is requisite God himself put his immediate hand to the execution. For otherwise this Work of Justice will not be perfect, (as yet every of his Works in their kind are said to be). And so he should not only fall short of satisfying his Justice, but also by not doing that towards it which is in his power to do, and which he is Lord of, he should not in any tolerable measure content it. Especially, if we further consider, that when all is done that can be done, this Punishment will not arise to a perfect satisfaction (for the Creature's punishment will not afford it, and therefore it doth for ever suffer) but only unto what