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

You know also the Rule, That the Measure of every Agent's working upon another must be taken from the Capacity of the Subject which the Impression is made upon, as well as from the Power of the Agent that works. Fire works more fiercely upon Oil and Brimstone, than upon Stones, or upon Dust or Sands. You may discern this in the parts of your own Body: Rheum falling upon the Lungs doth not torture so, as falling upon a Tooth, a Joint, or Eye. How also are the inward parts capable of more exquisite Torment, as by the Stone, &c. bred in them, than the outward are, by any Cuttings or Wounds?

Now the Soul of Man is capable of more exquisite Impressions from God's hand, in that it is an intelligent Spirit, and in the substantial Faculties of it assimilated to him, made in his Image, ⟨p. 134⟩a Spirit as God is, that hath an Understanding, and other Faculties, to receive and take in from him what he is pleased to pour forth into it by them; and is accordingly more sensible thereof, than the Senses of the Body are or can be supposed to be from Creatures. The Prophet Nahum seems to have considered this, chap. 1. v. 5, 6. When setting out God's Wrath to Men in the effects of it, he first considers, how it works upon inanimate Creatures, that are at such a distance (in respect of the kind of their being) from God's: It kindleth a Fire, says he, which maketh the Hills to melt, and the Earth is burnt up at his presence: yea, the World, and all that dwell therein, (which he will one day burn up with Fire.) Now from these the Prophet infers and raiseth up our thoughts. Doth he work thus upon insensible Creatures, as the Hills, and the Earth, and the whole World? Do the Elements melt with fervent heat? Are the Heavens shrivelled up as a Scroll of Parchment afore him, by the violence of that Fire which he sends forth? Consider then, O consider, ye Sons of Men, how will the Fire of his Wrath work upon your intellectual Souls? And as unto this Scope and Coherence with the former, I understand ⟨p. 135⟩what follows, verse 6. Who can stand afore his Indignation? who can abide in the fierceness of his Anger? He here turneth his Speech, and applieth it to Men. For the Souls of Men being in their beings and kind nearer of kin to him, Spirits, as he is the great Spirit, and the Father of Spirits, which were made only for God, and to be filled with God, have accordingly a more intimate sense of his Workings on them. And 'tis as if he had said, If then he sends forth such a Fire as melts and dissolves the Earth, Mountains of Iron or Brass; how much more will it be able to melt Wax? And such are Mens Souls to God, comparatively to other Creatures. Christ speaking of his Soul, when he had thus to do with God, in the Day of his Anger,