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

There hath been nothing more divertive of the Thoughts of Men from apprehending, or so much as imagining God's immediate Wrath to be a cause of that Punishment in Hell; then that the Scriptures do so often make mention of Fire, &c. as the Instrument thereof, and so Mens conceptions do terminate therein, and go no further.

THere hath been nothing more divertive of the Thoughts of Men from apprehending, or so much as imagining God's immediate Wrath to be a cause of that Punishment in Hell; then that the Scriptures do so often make mention of Fire, &c. as the Instrument thereof, and so Mens conceptions do terminate therein, and go no further.

But I shall rather on the other hand, make an Argument of it. Namely, that indeed the Scriptures do set out this immediate Wrath of God under the Similitude, Resemblance, and Representation ⟨p. 37⟩of Fire; and that, sometimes, when Hell-fire is spoken of, the Wrath of God is intended thereby.

Unto which I yet Preface this: That I must not, nor dare I say that there is no material Fire in Hell ordained for Punishment to Mens Bodies: but that it is Rational, that the Body having sinned as well as the Soul, it should have a meet recompense of Reward suited thereto, as well as that the Soul should. But yet so, as either of them have this meted out to them, according to their vastly differing share, and hand, and acting which they had in sinning; in which the Soul is always the principal Actor, and in some Sins the sole Agent and Subject. To be sure in Heaven there is a confluence of created Excellencies, suited to the Bodies of Saints, made Spiritual, as well as God Himself, the Happiness of their Souls; and sure I am that on the contrary, it is distinctly said of each and apart, That God destroys [both Body and Soul] in Hell,