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

2. This latter Supposal of God's arming the Creatures with his displeasure, and conveying it by them, falls yet lower, and is less than God's immediate Wrath from himself; even as God's Love conveyed by Ordinances and Means, is a a far lower Dispensation than the immediate Communication thereof from himself. God's power, tho never so great, yet in working by and through an Instrument, is abated, lessened, stinted in working. You may have read and heard (perhaps) the comparison between God's Power and the Creatures, in respect of Torment, thus expressed: That the one is, but as if a Child should strike a Blow, in comparison of a Giant: But to the case in hand, I have used to raise it thus: A Giant that can of himself give a great Blow immediately, if he yet should take but a Straw to strike withal, the Stroke would prove but small; and yet it would be greater than if a Child should strike with it; Why? because his Power is limited and enervated by the Instrument he strikes withal. Now what are all the Creatures, though in God's hand, but as Straws in a Giant's? And yet how terrible is his Wrath when ⟨p. 125⟩conveyed by them? I conclude this with allusion to that Speech of Rehoboam, 1 Kin. 12. 10. The weight of God's little Finger is heavier than that of the whole Creation: And if they be able, or God by them, to scourge us with Whips, then God himself immediately with Scorpions.

Having thus considered how the immediateness of God's working doth comparatively exceed that of the Creatures, or of himself by the Creatures: In the

Fourth place, Let us go on more sadly, in a positive way, to consider, What his immediate Power is; what the Strength of those hands is which Men must fall into. And how may this amaze you? As it is said of God's Wisdom, There is no end of it, no searching of his Understanding; so nor of his Power. And how can I discover or unbar that Arm before you? I begin to do it thus: God had begun to enter into a Contest with Job, and touched him but with his little Finger; and Job soon felt him, and cries out: If I speak of Strength, or think that way to grapple with him, He is strong,