Now let reason here come in and exercise itself in the most
exquisite manner, yea, let it now count up all and all manner of
curses and torments that a reasonable and immortal soul is or can be
made capable of, and able to suffer under; and when it has done, it
shall come infinitely short of this great anathema, this
master-curse, which God has reserved amongst his treasures, and
intends to bring out in that day of battle and war which he
purposeth to make upon damned souls in that day.
"The sting of death is sin." Sin in the general of it is the sting
of hell, for there would be no such thing as torment even there,
were it not that sin is there with sinners; for the fire of hell,
the indignation and wrath of God can fasten and kindle upon nothing
but for or because of sin. Sin then, as sin, is the sting and the
hell of hells, of the lowest and upmost hells--sin, I say, in the
nature of it, simply as it is concluded both by God and the damned
to be a breach of his holy law, so it is the sting of the second
death, which is the worm of hell.
But then, as sin is such a sting in itself, so it is heightened,
sharpened, made more keen and sharp, by those circumstances that
attend it in every act; for there is not a sin at any time committed
by man, but there is some circumstance or other attends it that
makes it, when charged home by God's law, bigger and sharper and
more venomous and poisonous to the soul, than if it could be
committed without them; and this is the sting of the hornet, the
great sting.
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