Casuistical morning-exercises the fourth volume /

'Tis not from any defect in his Power that they are not consumed, but from the abundance of his Mercy. He made the World without any strain of his Power, and can as easily destroy it: he has an innumerable company of Angels attending his Commands, and every Angel ⟨p. 259⟩is an Army in strength, one of them destroyed a hundred and fourscore and five thousand in a Night: he can use the most despicable and weakest Creatures, Frogs, and Lice, and Flies, as instruments of vengeance to subdue the proudest Pharaoh, the most obstinate Rebels.— He sees sin where-ever it is, and hates it where-ever he sees it, yet his Patience endures th•• crying sins, and his long sufferance expects their repentance. The Lord is not slack, as some Men count slackness, but he is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. He spares sinners with such indulgence, in order to their Salvation. 'Tis deservedly one of his Royal Titles, the God of Patience. Our fierce Spirits are apt to take fire and revenge for every injury real, or supposed; but the great God, who is infinitely sensible of all the indignities offered to his Majesty, defers his anger, and loads them with his benefits every day. What is more astonishing than the riches of his Goodness, unless it be the perverse abuse of it by sinners to harden themselves in their impieties? But although his Clemency delays the punishment, the sacredness and constancy of his Justice will not forget it: when patience has had its perfect work, Justice shall have a solemn triumph in the final destruction of impenitent unreformed sinners.

'Tis not from any defect in his Power that they are not consum'd, but from the abundance of his Mercy. He made the World without any strain of his Power, and can as easily destroy it: he has an innumerable company of Angels attending his Commands, and every Angel ⟨p. 259⟩is an Army in strength, one of them destroyed a hundred and fourscore and five thousand in a Night: he can use the most despicable and weakest Creatures, Frogs, and Lice, and Flies, as instruments of vengeance to subdue the proudest Pharoah, the most obstinate Rebels.— He sees sin where-ever it is, and hates it where-ever he sees it, yet his Patience endures th•• crying sins, and his long sufferance expects their repentance. The Lord is not slack, as some Men count slackness, but he is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. He spares sinners with such indulgence, in order to their Salvation. 'Tis deservedly one of his Royal Titles, the God of Patience. Our fierce Spirits are apt to take fire and revenge for every injury real, or suppos'd; but the great God, who is infinitely sensible of all the indignities offer'd to his Majesty, defers his anger, and loads them with his benefits every day. What is more astonishing than the riches of his Goodness, unless it be the perverse abuse of it by sinners to harden themselves in their impieties? But altho his Clemency delays the punishment, the sacredness and constancy of his Justice will not forget it: when patience has had its perfect work, Justice shall have a solemn triumph in the final destruction of impenitent unreformed sinners.