Discourses, or, Sermons on several Scriptures

I come now to the second Thing observable in the Words, and that is the dreadfulness of this Vengeance inferred, from the consideration of the Author and Inflicter of it; for because it is Divine Vengeance, and a falling into the Hands of the living God, therefore it must needs be very terrible. And here I shall first take notice of those Expressions that my Text affords, to set forth the Terror of this Wrath. And then consider other Demonstrations of it. And here,

I come now to the second Thing observable in the Words, and that is the dreadfulness of this Vengeance inferred, from the consideration of the Author and Inflicter of it; for because it is Divine Vengeance, and a falling into the Hands of the living God, therefore it must needs be very terrible. And here I shall first take notice of those Expressions that my Text affords, to set forth the Terrour of this Wrath. And then consider other Demonstrations of it. And here,

First, Consider that all other Vengeance is as nothing in comparison of that which God takes on a damned Soul. You ⟨p. 83⟩may possibly have heard of strange and horrid Revenges that some cruel Men have carved out unto themselves, putting those that have offended them to such Tortures as were altogether unfit for Men either to inflict or suffer. All Histories abound with such Barbarities. I am loth to offend your Ears so much as to recount them, let us only take an estimate by the dreadful Revenge that David took on the Ammonites: ¹2 Samuel 12. last. where it is said, He put them under Saws, and Harrows of Iron, and made them pass through the Brick-Kilns. And all this Severity, (if not to say Cruelty) was to revenge the insolent Affront done to his Ambassadors. It is doubtless no small Torture to be burnt alive, for Fire is a searching Thing, and ⟨p. 84⟩