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

IF God in his Wrath be the immediate Inflicter of that Punishment for Sin, then certainly he is not the ¹Author of Sin. Fulgentius, among other highly-evincing demonstrations of it, ⟨p. 198⟩casts in this: Iniquitatis cujus est Ultor, non est Autor; God is not the Author of Sin, whereof he is the Avenger. Which Maxim is founded upon an high Principle of Reason and Equity. God puts the whole of this matter so far off from himself, that he lays all, both Sin and Punishment, wholly upon Man; so as although the Punishment it self be from his own just Wrath, that is provoked to inflict it, yet even thereof he thus speaks, Do they provoke me to Anger? ('tis true, they do;) but do they not provoke themselves, to the Confusion of their own Faces? So as he ascribes his own Wrath that inflicts that Punishment wholly to themselves, returns even that upon themselves. As if he had said, I am angry indeed, &c. 'tis true, yet they are more the provoking Causes of that Anger than my self. They spite but themselves, when they sin against me. Like unto which is that Speech also, Rom. 2. 4, 5. Thou treasurest up Wrath unto thy self: [Thou to thy Self] although it be God's Wrath in his Breast that is treasured up, yet the treasuring of it up is ascribed unto themselves.

IF God in his Wrath be the immediate Inflicter of that Punishment for Sin, then certainly he is not the ¹