A Treatise of Christian Religion, Chapter 11
CHAP. 11.
Of the Puniſhment of Sinne.
The puniſhment of Sin,
In this life,
In the Perſons,
Ioyntly in body and ſoule.
Apart,
In ſoule.
In body.
In the things belonging to the Perſons.
In the life to come.
ROM. chap. 6. verſ. 23. For the wages of ſinne is death: but the gift of God is eternall life, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lord.
Q. SO much of the guilt of ſinne: what is the Puniſhment thereof?
A. All thoſe Iudgements and Curſes, that are denounced in the word of God againſt ſinne, or which at any time are inflicted vponupon ſinners; all which are comprehended vnderunder this word death, and in regard of the equity, are called the wages, or reward of Sinne.
Q. Are all the Iudgements and Curſes, which are, or ſhall be inflicted for ſinne, laid downe in the word?
A. They cannot all in particular bee laid downe, Deut. 29. 20. & 28. 61.they are ſo manifold and diuers; and therefore it is ſaid, that they ſhall come, written and vnwritten.
Q. How farre doth the puniſhment of ſinne extend it ſelfe?
A. Euen to the whole eſtate of him that ſinneth: for whereas Executions vponupon Obligations vntounto men are ſo directed, as they can charge but either the perſon alone, or his Goods & lands alone, ſo as if the Creditor fall vponupon the one, hee freeth the other; as if he fall vponupon the perſon, he can proceed no further then vntounto his body, & vponupon that only till death; the execution that goeth out from God, for the obligatiō of ſin, is extended Luk. 11. 4. 5.to the whole eſtate of the ſinner, and that for euer.
Q. Can you draw this great number and diuerſitie of Iudgements to certaine heads?
A. Yea: for they are either in this life, or in the life to come.
Q. What are they in this life?
A. They are either in the perſons themſelues, or in the things that belong vntounto them.
Q. What are they in the Perſons themſelues?
A. They are either in the whole perſon, body and ſoule ioyntly, or in the parts ſeuerally.
Q. What are they in the whole ioyntly?
A. a1. Cor. 15. 56. Rom. 5. 20. & 6. 20. 1. Job. 1. 8. Mat. 12. 34.A neceſſity of ſinning, (but without all feare or conſtraint on Gods part), and that vntil they be borne againe by the Grace of God.
Q. What are they in the Perſons ſeuerally?
A. In the ſoule, and in the body apart.
Q. What are they that are in the ſoule apart?
A. A Spirit of Ignorance, and of want of iudgement Epheſ. 4. 17. 18. 19.to diſcerne betweene good and euill; Forgetfulneſſe of holy things: A ſtrange Sottiſhneſſe, and dulneſſe to conceiue of them: Hardneſſe and ſtupiditie of heart, void of all ſenſe and apprehenſion of ſauing goodnes, and of any affection or deſire thereunto; which Iudgements, though for a time they are leaſt felt, yet are more fearfull and dangerous then thoſe which are preſently apprehended, and the ſenſe whereof is ſharpe and bitter.
Q. What are they vponupon the body apart?
A. Hunger, thirſt, wearineſſe, want of ſleepe, all Deut. 28.kind of diſeaſes, euen to the itch; in the leaſt of which (though few make account of them) we ought to hauehave a ſenſible feeling of the anger of God, and of his iuſt iudgement for ſinne.
Q. What are they in the things which belong vntounto them?
A. Calamities vponupon their wiues, children, families, Mat. 15. 22. & 7. 1. 2.goods, and good name.
Q. Hitherto of the puniſhments in this life: What are they in the life to come?
A. They are moſt horrible and vnſpeakable: firſt, the ſoules of the wicked, after this life, are ſent immediately Luk. 16. 22. 23.to hell, vntill the day of Iudgement: then at Matth. 10. 28. Luk. 16. 25.the day of Iudgement, their Bodies ſhall bee ioyned to their Soules, and both together ſhall be tormented in hell fire euerlaſtingly; and ſo much the more tormented there, by how much they hauehave had more freedome from paine of body, and anguiſh of ſoule, and loſſe of outward things in this life.
Q. Is the puniſhment of all ſinnes alike?
A. No: For as the guilt encreaſeth, ſo doth the Joh. 19. 11. Mat. 11. 20-25.puniſhment; and as the ſmalleſt ſinne cannot eſcape Gods hands, ſo looke how wee ſhall multiplie ſinnes here, he will heape his Iudgements then.