(2.) There must be a Sense of the Wrath of God pursuing us for Sin: Both are necessary. Some are sensible of Sin, but not of Wrath; as the carnal and dissolute, who cannot but know themselves wicked wretched Creatures, but do not consider of Wrath to come; Amos 6.3. Ye put far away the evil Day. Hell is at a Distance, and Judgment is to come; they put off Trouble when they cannot put it away; they sleep, but their Damnation sleepeth not; they adjourn their Work, and leave their Souls at a desperate Pass. Things afar off, though they be marvellous great, seem little; a Star that is bigger than all the Earth, is as a Spark or Spangle. Their Consciences are not sensible of Wrath, though their Hearts be full of Sin. Wrath is not upon them, nor the Avenger of Blood at their Heels, they delay and dream of a devout old Age. But now God maketh them sensible of Wrath, to whom he meaneth Grace, though I confess in a different Degree. They are solicitous, if not anxious; one time or other they are brought to this, What shall I do? Some more violently, others more gently; some are wounded at the very Heart, others are pricked and a little stung at the Heart; Acts 2.37. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their Heart, as with an empoisoned Dagger. No certain Rules can be given; sometimes they that have good Education, have least Terrors, as being restrained from grosser Sins. Trees long unpruned, have the more Cuts when they come to be lopped. Some have more Terrors, because they have withstood more Means. Some that are called to greater Services, have most Terrors; he that hath received much Wrong by a bad Neighbour, can speak worse of him than he that hath received less Injuries. Those that are not called to such eminent Services, God spareth them. Work serveth instead of Sorrows. Some have drunk most deeply of the Dregs of Sin, they serve only for Monuments of the Power of God's Anger. Sometimes Men or Women of the most excellent and acute Understanding, are most troubled, as having the clearest Apprehension of the Heinousness of Sin, and Terribleness of Wrath. At other times it cometh from Ignorance, as Fears are in the dark, and weak Spirits are apt to be terrified. There can be no certain Rules, only this in general, All feel some Smart. Sin would not be bitter, and Christ would not be sweet, did not we taste it sometimes.
(2.) There must be a Sense of the Wrath of God pursuing us for Sin: Both are necessary. Some are sensible of Sin, but not of Wrath; as the carnal and dissolute, who cannot but know themselves wicked wretched Creatures, but do not consider of Wrath to come; Amos 6.3. Ye put far away the evil Day. Hell is at a Distance, and Judgment is to come; they put off Trouble when they cannot put it away; they sleep, but their Damnation sleepeth not; they adjourn their Work, and leave their Souls at a desperate Pass. Things afar off, though they be marvellous great, seem little; a Star that is bigger than all the Earth, is as a Spark or Spangle. Their Consciences are not sensible of Wrath, though their Hearts be full of Sin. Wrath is not upon them, nor the Avenger of Blood at their Heels, they delay and dream of a devout old Age. But now God maketh them sensible of Wrath, to whom he meaneth Grace, though I confess in a different Degree. They are solicitous, if not anxious; one time or other they are brought to this, What shall I do? Some more violently, others more gently; some are wounded at the very Heart, others are pricked and a little stung at the Heart; Acts 2.37. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their Heart, as with an empoisoned Dagger. No certain Rules can be given; sometimes they that have good Education, have least Terrors, as being restrained from grosser Sins. Trees long unprun'd, have the more Cuts when they come to be lopp'd. Some have more Terrors, because they have withstood more Means. Some that are called to greater Services, have most Terrors; he that hath received much Wrong by a bad Neighbour, can speak worse of him than he that hath received less Injuries. Those that are not called to such eminent Services, God spareth them. Work serveth instead of Sorrows. Some have drunk most deeply of the Dregs of Sin, they serve only for Monuments of the Power of God's Anger. Sometimes Men or Women of the most excellent and acute Understanding, are most troubled, as having the clearest Apprehension of the Hainousness of Sin, and Terribleness of Wrath. At other times it cometh from Ignorance, as Fears are in the dark, and weak Spirits are apt to be terrified. There can be no certain Rules, only this in general, All feel some Smart. Sin would not be bitter, and Christ would not be sweet, did not we taste it sometimes.
