316 THE ABSOLUTE. 4. A little of God's wrath will bring down all this upon those that embrace not and obey not the Son. If his wrath be kindled, yea, but a little, &c. As his mercy being the mercy of an infinite God, a little of it will sweeten a world of crosses ; so therefore c4ill a little of his wrath consume a world.of pleasures ; one spark fell among the Bethshemites, andconsumed fifty thousand and seventy men, but for looking into the ark, till the people cry out, "Who can stand before this holy Lord.' God?" 1 Sam. tti. 19, 20. How, then, will the neglecters of Christ stand before him! Sirs;. methinks we should not bear of this as strangers or unbelievers. There did but one spark fall uponEngland,, and what a combustion bath it cast this kingdom into ! How - many houses and towns bath it consumed! How many thousands of people hath it em- poverished ! How many children bath it left fatherless ! And how many thousand bodies bath it bereaved of their souls ! And though there are as many hearty prayers and tears poured forth . to quench it as most kingdoms on earth. have had, yetis the fare kindled afresh, and threateneth a more terrible desolation than before, as if it would turn us all to ashes. 'One spark fell 'upon Germany, another upon Ireland; and what it háth done there I' need not tell you. If a little of this wrath do but seize upon thy body, what cries, and groans, and lamentations doth it raise ! If it be on one member, yea, but a tooth, how dost thou roar with intolerable pain, and wouldest nOt take 'the world to live forever in that condition ! If it seize upon the conscience, what torments doth it cause, as if the man were already, in hell ! He thinketh every thing he seeth is against him ; he feareth-every bit he eateth should be his bane. If he sleep, he dreams of death and judg- ment; when he awaketh, his conscience and horror awake with him: he is weary of living, and fearful,of dying: even the thoughts of heaven are terrible to him, because he thinks it is not för him. 0! what a pitiful sight it is to see a man under the wrath of God ! And are these little sparks so intolerable hot? What, then, do yoú think are the everlasting flames ? Beloved hearers, if God had not spoke this, I durst not have spoke it: the desire of my soul is, that you may never feel it, or else .I should never have chosen-so unpleasing a subject, but that I hope ,the foreknowing may help' you to prevent it ; but let me tell you from God, that, assure as the heaven is over your head, and the earth under your feet, except the Son of God be nearer thy heart, and dearer to thy heart than friends, or goods, or pleasures, or life; or'any thing.in this world, this burning wrath will never be prevented ; Matt. x. 37. Luke xiv. 46. 5. When this wrath ofGod is thoroughly kindled, the world will discern the blessed from the wretched., " Then blessed are they that trust in him." It is the property of the wicked to
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