mercy, and God's mere will, that holds it back.

They are already under a sentence of condemnation to hell. They do not
only justly deserve to be cast down thither, but the sentence of the law
of God, that eternal and immutable rule of righteousness that God has
fixed between him and mankind, is gone out against them, and stands
against them; so that they are bound over already to hell. John 3:18.
"He that believeth not is condemned already." So that every unconverted
man properly belongs to hell; that is his place; from thence he is, John
8:23. "Ye are from beneath:" And thither he is bound; it is the place
that justice, and God's word, and the sentence of his unchangeable law
assign to him.

They are now the objects of that very same anger and wrath of God, that
is expressed in the torments of hell. And the reason why they do not go
down to hell at each moment, is not because God, in whose power they
are, is not then very angry with them; as he is with many miserable
creatures now tormented in hell, who there feel and bear the fierceness
of his wrath. Yea, God is a great deal more angry with great numbers
that are now on earth: yea, doubtless, with many that are now in this
congregation, who it may be are at ease, than he is with many of those
who are now in the flames of hell. So that it is not because God is
unmindful of their wickedness, and does not resent it, that he does not
let loose his hand and cut them off. God is not altogether such an one
as themselves, though they may imagine him to be so. The wrath of God
burns against them, their damnation does not slumber; the pit is
prepared, the fire is made ready, the furnace is now hot, ready to
receive the