2 Misery.] We are Heirs of God's Wrath.] In the Text, And were by nature the children of wrath. Tertullian's Exposition here is wrong, Children of Wrath he understands subjective, that is, subject to Wrath and Passion; offending often in the Irascible Faculty of a wrathful Spirit. But by Children of Wrath, the Apostle passively means Heirs of Wrath, exposed to God's Displeasure. God was once a Friend, but Sin broke the Knot of Friendship; now God's Smile is turned into a Frown; we are now bound over to the Sessions, and become Children of Wrath; And who knows the power of Gods wrath? Psal. 90.11. The Wrath of a King is as the roaring of a Lyon, Prov. 19.12. How did Haman's Heart tremble when the King rose up from the Banquet in wrath, Esth. 7.7. But God's Wrath is Infinite, all other is but as a Spark to a Flame: Wrath in God is not a Passion as in us; but it is an Act of God's Holy Will, whereby he abhors Sin, and decrees to punish it. This Wrath is very dismal, 'tis this Wrath of God that embitters Afflictions in this Life: When Sickness comes attended with God's Wrath, it puts Conscience into an Agony. The mingling the Fire with the Hail made it so terrible, Exod. 9.24. so mingling God's Wrath with Affliction makes it torturing. It is the Nail in the Yoke; God's Wrath when but in a Threatening, (as a Shower hanging in the Cloud) made Ely's ears to tingle; What is it then when this Wrath is executed? It is terrible when the King rates and chides a Traitor, but it is more dreadful when he causeth him to be set upon the Rack, or to be broke upon the Wheel: Who knows the power of God's wrath? While we are Children of Wrath, 1. We have nothing to do with any of the Promises; they are as the Tree of Life, bearing several sorts of Fruit, but no right to pluck one Leaf, Eph. 2.3. Children of wrath. Verse 12. Strangers to the covenants of promise. The Promises are as a Fountain sealed. While we are in the State of Nature, we see nothing but the flaming Sword; and as the Apostle, Heb. 10.27. there remains nothing but [Greek or Hebrew], a fearful looking for of fiery Indignation▪ 2. While Children of Wrath, we are Heirs to all God's Curses, Gal. 3.10. How can the Sinner eat and drink in that Condition? Like Damari• 's Banquet, he sat at Meat, and there was a Sword hanging over his Head by a small Thread; one would think he should have little stomach to eat:
2 Misery.] We are Heirs of God's Wrath.] In the Text, And were by nature the children of wrath. Tertullian's Exposition here is wrong, Chrildren of Wrath he understands subjective, that is, subject to Wrath and Passion; offending often in the Irascible Faculty of a wrathful Spirit. But by Children of Wrath, the Apostle passively means Heirs of Wrath, expos'd to God's Displeasure. God was once a Friend, but Sin broke the Knot of Friendship; now God's Smile is turned into a Frown; we are now bound over to the Sessions, and become Children of Wrath; And who knows the power of God•s wrath? Psal. 90.11. The Wrath of a King is as the roaring of a Lyon, Prov. 19.12. How did Haman's Heart tremble when the King rose up from the Banquet in wrath, Esth. 7.7. But God's Wrath is Infinite, all other is but as a Spark to a Flame: Wrath in God is not a Passion as in us; but it is an Act of God's Holy Will, whereby he abhors Sin, and decrees to punish it. This Wrath is very dismal, 'tis this Wrath of God that imbitters Afflictions in this Life: When Sickness comes attended with God's Wrath, it puts Conscience into an Agony. The mingling the Fire with the Hail made it so terrible, Exod. 9.24. so mingling God's Wrath with Affliction makes it torturing. It is the Nail in the Yoke; God's Wrath when but in a Threatning, (as a Shower hanging in the Cloud) made Ely's ears to tingle; What is it then when this Wrath is executed? It is terrible when the King rates and chides a Traytor, but it is more dreadful when he causeth him to be set upon the Rack, or to be broke upon the Wheel: Who knows the power of God's wath? While we are Children of Wrath, 1. We have nothing to do with any of the Promises; they are as the Tree of Life, bearing several sorts of Fruit, but no right to pluck one Leaf, Eph. 2.3. Children of wrath. Verse 12. Strangers to the covenants of promise. The Promises are as a Fountain seal'd. While we are in the State of Nature, we see nothing but the flaming Sword; and as the Apostle, Heb. 10.27. there remains nothing but 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, a fearful looking for of fiery Indignation▪ 2. While Children of Wrath, we are Heirs to all God's Curses,
