A Body of Practical Divinity

Quest. But how doth this seem to stand with Gods Justice, for a Sin committed in a moment, to punish it with eternal Torment?

Quest. But how doth this seem to stand with Gods Iustice, for a Sin committed in a moment, to punish it with eternal Torment?

Resp. 1. Because there is an Eternity of Sin in Mans Nature. 2. Because Sin is Crimen laesae Majestatis, it is committed against an infinite Majesty, therefore the Sin is Infinite, and proportionably the Punishment must be Infinite. Now, because a finite Creature cannot bear infinite Wrath, therefore he must be eternally satisfying what he cannot satisfy at once. Now then, if Hell be such an House of Bondage, what infinite cause have they to bless God, who are delivered from it? 1 Thess. 1.10. Jesus delivered us from the Wrath to come. Jesus Christ suffered the Torments of Hell in his Soul, that Believers should not suffer them. If we are thankful when we are ransomed out of Prison, or delivered from Fire, Oh how should we bless God to be preserved from Wrath to come! And that which may cause the more Thankfulness, is because the most go into this House of Bondage, the most go to Hell: Therefore to be of the number of those few that are delivered from it, is matter of infinite Thankfulness. I say, most go to this House of Bondage when they dye; most go to Hell, Matt. 7.13. Broad is the way which leadeth to destruction, and many there be that go in thereat. The greatest part of the World lies in Wickedness, 1 John 5.19. Divide the World, saith Brerewood, into 31 parts, nineteen parts of it are possessed by Jews and Turks, seven parts by Heathens; so that there are but five parts of Christians; and among these Christians so many seduced Papists on one hand, and so many formal Protestants on the other, that we may conclude the major part of the World goes to Hell. 1. The Scripture compares the Wicked to Briars,