When we have thus acknowledged our sins by an Enumeration and Aggravation of them; we are in the next place to own the punishments that are due unto them, thereby the better to affect us with sorrow and indignation at those evil courses, which will expose us to so many fearful dangers. That thus remembring our doings which were not good, (Exek. 36.31) we may loath our selves for our abominations: Acknowledging that we are not worthy the least of his mercies, (Gen. 32.10) or truth, that he hath shewed unto us; Desiring to abhorre our selves, (Job. 42.6) and repent in dust and ashes.
Thus the Prodigal in his submission to his father; first he acknowledges his offence, I have sinned against heaven, (Luke 15.18, 19) and against thee; and then he ownes the punishment, And am no more worthy to be called thy son. There being a natural consequence betwixt these two. For if God spared not the Angels that sinned, (2 Pet. 2.4, 5, 6) but delivered them into chaines of darknesse to be reserved unto judgement; if he spared not the old world, but brought a flood upon them; if the cities of Sodom, and Gomorrah were turned into ashes, being condemned unto a dreadfull overthrow, that they might be examples to those that after should live ungodly; (Rom. 11.21) if God spared not the natural branches, but cut them off for their disobedience and unbelief; we may certainly then conclude, that though sentence against other evill works be not executed speedily, (Eccl. 8.11) yet they shall not go unpunished; (Ps. 140.11) But evill shall hunt the wicked person to overthrow him. And therefore besides the confession of our sins, it is also requisite that we own, and acknowledge the punishments that are due unto us for them.
Now these punishments are either External. Internal.1 Eternal.
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The External are those that concern the outward man; either in Body, Friends, Name, Estate.
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In our Bodies: ‘Twere but justice if God should deprive us of our health; if he should smite us with a consumption, and a feaver;2 with an inflammation, and an extream burning, with the botch of Egypt, with the Emrods, and with the Leprosie, whereof we cannot be cured; if he should send upon us sore sicknesses, and of long continuance;3 if he should suffer us with Job to be so wholly overspread with sores,4 that we should become loathsome to our own selves. That we should chuse strangling and death rather then life.
It were but justice if he should strike us blinde, or deaf, or lame; if he should take from us those senses by which we have so much dishonoured, and provoked him; if he should deprive us of those limbs and members, which we have used as instruments of sin, and weapons of unrighteousnesse.
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In respect of our Friends: We might justly expect that God should cast us into a forlorn, destitute condition, when there should be none to relieve or pitty us. He might take from us the help and comfort of our Friends, either turning their hearts against us, or depriving us of them by death.
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In regard of our Names and Credit: He might give us over to those notorious, scandalous censures, by which we should be made ashamed to live, and afraid to die. He might justly make us an astonishment,5 and a proverb, and a by-word amongst all Nations; To be laughed to scorn, and had in derision of them that are round about us. He might blot out our names from under heaven.
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For our Estates: If God should lay judgement to the line, and righteousnes to the plummet; he might number every one of us to the sword, and to captivity, and to ruine: Depriving us of our liberty, (Liberty) peace, plenty. It were but justice if he should suffer us to be shut up in some prison or dungeon, where we could not enjoy the mercies that we possesse: If he should lead us into captivity, sell us unto some cruell slavery, and bondage; Scatter us abroad amongst all the Kingdoms of the earth;6 Causing us to wander about in sheep-skins, and goat-skins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;7 Being dispersed in the deserts, and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.