The saints everlasting rest

1. From the principal author of them, which is GOD himself: as it was no less than GOD whom the sinners had offended, so it is no less than GOD that will punish them for their offences. He hath prepared those torments for his enemies. His continued anger will still be devouring them. His breath of indignation will kindle the flames. His wrath will be an intolerable burden to their souls. If it were but a creature that they had to do with, they might better ⟨p. 114⟩bear it. But woe to him that falls under the strokes of the Almighty! They shall feel to their sorrow, That it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living GOD. It were nothing in comparison to this, if all the world were against them, or if the strength of all the creatures were united in one to inflict their penalty. What a consuming fire is his wrath? If it he kindled here, and that but a little, how do we wither before it, as the grass that it cut down before the sun? How soon doth our strength decay, and turn to weakness, and our beauty to deformity! The flames do not so easily run through the dry stubble, as the wrath of GOD will feed upon these wretches. Oh, they that could not bear a prison, or a gibbet, for Christ, scarce a few scorns, how will they now bear the devouring fire?

1. From the principal author of them, which is GOD himself: as it was no less than GOD whom the sinners had offended, so it is no less than GOD that will punish them for their offences. He hath prepared those torments for his enemies. His continued anger will still be devouring them. His breath of indignation will kindle the flames. His wrath will be an intolerable burden to their souls. If it were but a creature that they had to do with, they might better ⟨p. 114⟩bear it. But wo to him that falls under the strokes of the Almighty! They shall feel to their sorrow, That it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living GOD. It were nothing in comparison to this, if all the world were against them, or if the strength of all the creatures were united in one to inflict their penalty. What a consuming fire is his wrath? If it he kindled here, and that but a little, how do we wither before it, as the grass that it cut down before the sun? How soon doth our strength decay, and turn to weakness, and our beauty to deformity! The flames do not so easily run through the dry stubble, as the wrath of GOD will feed upon these wretches. Oh, they that could not bear a prison, or a gibbet, for Christ, scarce a few scorns, how will they now bear the devouring fire?