Wesley Corpus

This therefore clearly shows, that God executes vengeance; though justice, not vengeance, is properly in Him. Having now proved (as you suppose) that God has neither anger nor justice, it remains only to show (which indeed fol lows by easy and natural consequence) that he never did nor can punish. “To say, Adam’s miserable state was a punishment in flicted upon him by God is an utter absurdity.” (Spirit of Prayer, Part I., p. 24.) “His sin had not the least punish ment of any kind inflicted upon it by God.” (Page 26.) This is flat and plain. But let us see how far this account agrees with that which God himself hath given:-- “Of the tree of knowledge of good and evil thou shalt not eat : In the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Gen. ii. 17.) “And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not die.” (iii. 4.) “And the woman, being deceived,” did eat; (1 Tim. ii. 14;) “and gave unto her husband, and he did eat.” (Gen. iii. 6.) “And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed. Dust thou shalt eat all the days of thy life;” (verse 14;) “and I will put enmity between thee and the woman.” (Verse 15.) “Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and” (that is, in) “thy conception.” (Verse 16.) “And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast eaten of the tree, cursed is the ground for thy sake: In sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life.” (Verse 17.) “Dust thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return.” (Verse 19.) Can any man read this and affirm, “God did not inflict the least punishment, of any kind, either on Eve, or Adam, or the serpent?” With what eyes or understanding then must he read | But you say, “All that came on Adam was implied in what he chose to himself.” (Page 25.) It was. He chose it to himself in the same sense that he who robs chooses to be hanged. But this does not at all prove, that the death which one or the other suffers is no punishment. You go on: “Fire and brimstone, or manna, rained on the earth, are only one and the same love.