Sin, the Plague of Plagues

There is no Age wherein God doth not really and actually judge sinners; though perhaps this may not be so clear to a prejudiced and partial observer, that will think nothing a punishment, but what's miraculous, or extraordinary, as if the earth must always swallow men up, or God strike men down with thunderbolts continually, and nothing less must be called a punishment: Oh how often is Gods hand lifted up, but men will not see, yea felt, yet not acknowledged: God hath his Deputy in mens bosoms, their own Consciences, which doth often accuse and condemn them, that they cannot stand before its judgment; when their hearts smite them, they sink, and their countenance and courage falls, as that of Cain, and Judas, and Spira did; If men were but ingenuous, and would but declare what stingings of Conscience they feel, there would be witness enough, how God lasheth men within, and executeth judgment upon their spirits; but sisibly, and in the eyes of others, God doth often inflict corporal punishments, either immediately, as was most usual before the Flood; or mediately, and that sometimes by Angels, and sometimes by Men-Magistrates, humane and mortal Gods, Deputies to the God above; and by these God (as I may say) rides Circuit, and keeps Assizes very frequently: Though judgment be now his strange work in comparison, (and seems not so proper to this day of patience, as to that of a rath which is to come) yet God doth often ⟨p. 108⟩make examples; and though he make not (as yet) a full end of all Nations, he leaves none altogether unpunished.

There is no Age wherein God doth not really and actually judge sinners; though perhaps this may not be so clear to a prejudiced and partial observer, that will think nothing a punishment, but what's miraculous, or extraordinary, as if the earth must always swallow men up, or God strike men down with thunderbolts continually, and nothing less must be called a punishment: Oh how often is Gods hand lifted up, but men will not see, yea felt, yet not acknowledged: God hath his Deputy in mens bosomes, their own Consciences, which doth often accuse and condemn them, that they cannot stand before its judgment; when their hearts smite them, they sink, and their countenance and courage falls, as that of Cain, and Judas, and Spira did; If men were but ingenuous, and would but declare what stingings of Conscience they feel, there would be witness enough, how God lasheth men within, and executeth judgment upon their spirits; but sisibly, and in the eyes of others, God doth often inflict corporal punishments, either immediately, as was most usual before the Flood; or mediately, and that sometimes by Angels, and sometimes by Men-Magistrates, humane and mortal Gods, Deputies to the God above; and by these God (as I may say) rides Circuit, and keeps Assizes very frequently: Though judgment be now his strange work in comparison, (and seems not so proper to this day of patience, as to that of a rath which is to come) yet God doth often