OF EVILS OF PVNISHMENT

In this question also we are to speake of the effects of sinne, that is, of the other part of mans miserie, euen of the euill of paine and punishment. It is saide that God doth most grieuouslie, most iustlie, and most certainelie punish sinne. Most grieuouslie, for the greatnes of sin, because the infinite good is offēded thereby. Most iustlie, because euery sin violateth his law: & therfore euen the least sin meriteth eternal abiection and casting away. Most certainelie, both in respect of his iustice, which abhorreth and punisheth whatsoeuer is not agreeable vnto it; and in respect of his truth, because hee had denounced before that he woulde punish men, if they obeied not his commaundement. God therefore, seeing he is true, doth neuer change this his sentence.

1 Obiection. But the wicked florish here. Aunswere. The wicked florish but for a short time, to bee cast at length into eternal tormentes, except they repent. Yea in this life also they are punished. First, they are miserablie vexed with the torments and terrors of conscience, which in the reprobate are the beginning and sense of eternall paines. 2. Euen those good things which they vse with greatest pleasure, serue for their punishment and destruction; and verilie so much the more, how much the lesse they know and acknowledge them for a punishment. For it is a most grieuous punishment, not to receiue gods gifts in respect of gods promise, nor to know the right vse of them, neither with his giftes to receiue a will and abilitie also to vse them well. For if these thinges concurre not in the fruition of good things, mens sinnes and punishment must needs be the more encreased and exasperated: and thereby, except there come conuersion, eternal destruction or death is certainely purchased. 3. They are afflicted with other punishmentes also most grieuous oftentimes; yet with more grieuous in the life to come, where it shalbee a continuall death, not to bee dead.

2 Obiection. But God made not euil, and death. Aunswere.¹ He made them not in the beginning; and further also after the beginning neither euill, nor death shoulde haue beene, except our selues had woulde: For they ensued on the voluntarie sinne of man, God forcibly inflicting them, as a most iust punishment.

3 Obiection. If God punish sinnes with present and euerlasting punishments, he punisheth the same twise, & is vniust: but God punisheth sinnes with present and euerlasting punishmentes: therefore he punisheth the same sinne twise, and is vniust. Answ. The Minor is to be distinguished: for it is but one punishment, but hath seueral parts. For present punishments are the beginning of euerlasting, because they are not sufficient to satisfie Gods iustice.

4 Obiection. If God punish sinnes with eternall punishments: Then either all of vs perish; or Gods iustice is not satisfied. Aunswere If God should punish our sinnes in vs with eternal punishments, we should all perish, neither should we euer recouer vs thence: but hee doth not so punish them in vs: neither yet is Gods iustice impeached or violated, because hee punisheth our sinnes in Christ with a punishment temporall, but yet equiualent to euerlasting. This equability doth the Gospel adde vnto the rigour and seueritie of the law.

5 Obiection. The iustice of God permitteth not that the same sinne be twise punished: but our sinnes are most fullie punished in his sonne, and this punishment is imputed vnto the godlie or beleeuers. Therefore the same ought no more to bee punished in the godlie, and so they are vniustlie afflicted. Aunswere. The afflictions of the godly are not punishments and satisfaction for their sinnes, but onely fatherly chastisementes, and the Crosse, whereby they are brought to humility. Which that it may bee better vnderstoode, wee are necessarily here to speake of afflictions or calamities.