“While the reigning motive in the pious heart is not fear but love, not mere dread of torment but a joyful trust in God’s grace, yet it is well for us often to think of the hole of the pit whence we were digged, and of the miry clay whence our feet were taken. We should never forget that salvation is not only to something great and glorious, but that it is from something exceedingly dreadful, even from wrath (Romans 5:9). It is said that one man was awakened and converted just by hearing Mr. Whitefield pronounce the words — The wrath of the Lamb. Such words ought to move any heart.”

— William Swan Plumer, Commentary on Romans, p. 214