A fourth volume containing one hundred and fifty sermons on several texts of Scripture…

To this end let me show you how much we expect, and how much we are engaged to every Person of the God-head.

To this end let me shew you how much we expect, and how much we are engaged to every Person of the God-head.

1st. How much we do expect. There is freedom from Eternal Torments, and possession of Eternal Glory: 2 Thess. 1.10. Even Jesus, who hath delivered us from Wrath to come. Wrath present, is nothing to Wrath to come. Now God manageth all things by Creatures, and no Creature is sufficient to manifest all God's Wrath. Those Everlasting Flames that are the Portion of the Damned, this is that from which we are delivered. We tremble at the Name of Hell; what should we do at the sense of those Torments that are without End and Ease? The Gripes of Conscience for an Hour, how terrible are they? Then what is it to lie under the Wrath of God for ever and ever? We were involved in the same Guilt, in the same polluted Mass with others; therefore we might be bound up in the same Bundle, to be cast into Hell as well as they. Why are we taken, and others left to perish? O bless God for this, that we are as Brands plucked out of the Burning; we are bound up in the same Guilt and Misery; Zech. 3.2. Is not this a Brand plucked out of the Fire? Though you feel the smart of the Rod upon your Backs, remember this is nothing to Hell, Damnation, and Wrath to come: And this is given to prevent that, 1 Cor. 11.32. When we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the World. What cause have we to bless God, that we may think of Hell as a Danger that we have escaped by Christ? But then for Heaven, the positive part of this Blessedness, you have a Right, tho ⟨p. 125⟩not an actual Enjoyment. Sometimes Heaven is said to be kept for us, and sometimes we are said to be kept for Heaven;