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…

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, ¹1 Tim. 1. 16. though it a great matter God should forbear so long? what is the whole world then? if he, being but one small poor vessel, was so richly laden with the riches of Gods patience, how is this great bark of the world then fraught, that hath gone over so vast a gulf of time? how much of these his riches have been laden in it?

Nay thirdly, to manifest this abundance yet more, consider not onely the multitude hee forbeares, but the time he hath done it: to forbeare much, and to forbeare it long: he hath forborne, and beene out of purse from the beginning of the world, since men were upon the face of the earth, five thousand yeeres and a halfe already; and how long it is yet to the day of Judgement, wee know not: And yet ye see, He is as patient, and as bountifull now in the latter dayes of the world, as he was at the first. Did that greatest Convert that ever was, that had not lived past thirty yeeres in his sinfull 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 himselfe sayes) thinke himselfe a patterne of long suffering, ¹1 Tim. 1. 16. though it a great matter God should forbeare so long? what is the whole world then? if he, being but one small poore vessell, was so richly laden with the riches of Gods patience, how is this great bark of the world then fraught, that hath gone over so vast a gulfe of time? how much of these his riches have been laden in it?