“For these things’ sake the wrath of God cometh upon the children of disobedience.”  They are under the sentence of the broken law; the malediction of eternal justice.  “By the offense of one, judgment came upon all men unto condemnation.”  “He that believeth not is condemned already.”  “The wrath of God abideth on him.”  “Curst is every one that continueth not in all things written in the book of the law, to do them.”  “Wo unto the wicked; it shall be ill with him, for the reward of his hands shall be given him.”  “They that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, shall reap the same.”  “Upon the wicked the Lord shall rain fire, and snares, and a horrible tempest; this shall be the portion of their cup.”  “God is angry with the wicked every day; if he turn not he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.”

Who shall describe the misery of fallen man!  His days, tho few, are full of evil.  Trouble and sorrow press him forward to the tomb.  All the world, except Noah and his family, are drowning in the deluge.  A storm of fire and brimstone is fallen from heaven upon Sodom and Gomorrah.  The earth is opening her mouth to swallow up alive Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.  Wrath is coming upon “the beloved city,” even “wrath unto the uttermost.”  The tender and delicate mother is devouring her darling infant.  The sword of men is executing the vengeance of God.  The earth is emptying its inhabitants into the bottomless pit.  On every hand are “confused noises, and garments rolled in blood.”  Fire and sword fill the land with consternation and dismay.  Amid the universal devastation wild shrieks and despairing groans fill the air.  God of mercy! is Thy ear heavy, that Thou canst not hear? or Thy arm shortened, that Thou canst not save?  The heavens above are brass, and the earth beneath is iron; for Jehovah is pouring His indignation upon His adversaries, and He will not pity or spare.

Verily, “the misery of man is great upon him”!  Behold the wretched fallen creature!  The pestilence pursues him.  The leprosy cleaves to him.  Consumption is wasting him.  Inflammation is devouring his vitals.  Burning fever has seized upon the very springs of life.  The destroying angel has overtaken the sinner in his sins.  The hand of God is upon him.  The fires of wrath are kindling about him, drying up every well of comfort, and scorching all his hopes to ashes.  Conscience is chastizing him with scorpions.  See how he writhes!  Hear how he shrieks for help!  Mark what agony and terror are in his soul, and on his brow!  Death stares him in the face, and shakes at him his iron spear.  He trembles, he turns pale, as a culprit at the bar, as a convict on the scaffold.  He is condemned already.  Conscience has pronounced the sentence.  Anguish has taken hold upon him.  Terrors gather in battle array about him.  He looks back, and the storms of Sinai pursue him; forward, and hell is moved to meet him; above, and the heavens are on fire; beneath, and the world is burning.  He listens, and the judgment trump is calling; again, and the brazen chariots of vengeance are thundering from afar; yet again, the sentence penetrates his soul with anguish unspeakable—­“Depart! ye accurst! into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels!”