Aggravation of sin and sinning against knowledge. Mercy. Delivered in several sermons upon divers…Aggravation of sinne and sinning against knowledge. Mercie. Delivered in severall sermons upon divers…

Secondly, consider the multitude of sinners, that thus spend, and live upon these riches, no less than all the world: He had need of multitudes of patience in him: He forbears not one, but all and every one. We look upon one man, and seeing him very wicked, we wonder God cuts him not off; we wonder at our selves, that God did not cut us off before this, when once our eyes are opened: nay then cast your eyes over all the world, and stand amazed at Gods forbearance towards it. Take the richest man ⟨p. 12⟩that ever was, to have millions of men in his debt, it would undo him soon. All the world are in Gods debt, and run still in debt every day more and more, and yet he breaks not, nay breaks not them.

Secondly, consider the multitude of sinners, that thus spend, and live upon these riches, no lesse than all the world: Hee had need of multitudes of patience in him: He forbeares not one, but all and every one. We looke upon one man, and seeing him very wicked, wee wonder God cuts him not off; we wonder at our selves, that God did not cut us off before this, when once our eyes are opened: nay then cast your eyes over all the world, and stand amazed at Gods forbearance towards it. Take the richest man ⟨p. 12⟩that ever was, to have millions of men in his debt, it would undoe him soone. All the world are in Gods debt, and run still in debt every day more and more, and yet he breaks not, nay breaks not them.

Nay thirdly, to manifest this abundance yet more, consider not only the multitude he forbears, but the time he hath done it: to forbear much, and to forbear it long: he hath forborne, and been out of purse from the beginning of the world, since men were upon the face of the earth, five thousand years and a half already; and how long it is yet to the day of Judgement, we know not: And yet ye see, He is as patient, and as bountiful now in the latter days of the world, as he was at the first. Did that greatest Convert that ever was, that had not lived past thirty years in his sinful estate (for he was young when he held the stoners clothes that stoned Stephen) and yet was the chiefest of sinners, did he yet (as himself says) think himself a pattern of long suffering,