The divine life in three treatises

4. The Infinite goodness of God, should increase Repentance, and win the soul to a more resolute cheerful service of the Lord. O what a heart is that which can offend, and wilfully offend so good a God! This is the odiousness of sin, that it is an abuse of an Infinite good. This is the most heinous damning aggravation of it, that Infinite goodness could not prevail with wretched souls against the empty flattering world! but that they suffered a dream and shadow, to weigh down Infinite goodness in their esteem. And is it possible for worse then this to be found in man? He that had rather the sun were out of the firmament, then a hair were taken off his head, were unworthy to see the light of the Sun. And surely he that will turn away from God himself to enjoy the pleasures of his flesh, is unworthy to enjoy the Lord. Its bad enough that Augustine in one of his Epistles saith of sottish worldly men, that they had rather there were two stars fewer in the firmament, then one Cow fewer in their Pastures, or one tree fewer in their woods or grounds. But it is ten thousand times a greater evil that every wicked man is guilty of, that will rather forsake the Living God, and lose his part in Infinite goodness, then he will let go his filthy and unprofitable sins: O Sinners, as you love your souls, despise not the riches of the goodness, and forbearance, and long suffering of the Lord; but know that his goodness should lead you ⟨p. 69⟩to Repentance, Rom. 2. 4. Would you spit at the Sun? Would you revile the stars? Would you curse the holy Angels? If not, O do not ten thousand fold worse, by your wilful sinning against the Infinite Goodness it self.

4. The Infinite goodness of God, should increase Repentance, and win the soul to a more resolute chearful service of the Lord. O what a heart is that which can offend, and wilfully offend so good a God! This is the odiousness of sin, that it is an abuse of an Infinite good. This is the most hainous damning aggravation of it, that Infinite goodness could not prevail with wretched souls against the empty flattering world! but that they suffered a dream and shadow, to weigh down Infinite goodness in their esteem. And is it possible for worse then this to be found in man? He that had rather the sun were out of the firmament, then a hair were taken off his head, were unworthy to see the light of the Sun. And surely he that will turn away from God himself to enjoy the pleasures of his flesh, is unworthy to enjoy the Lord. Its bad enough that Augustine in one of his Epistles saith of sottish worldly men, that they had rather there were two stars fewer in the firmament, then one Cow fewer in their Pastures, or one tree fewer in their woods or grounds. But it is ten thousand times a greater evil that every wicked man is guilty of, that will rather forsake the Living God, and lose his part in Infinite goodness, then he will let go his filthy and unprofitable sins: O Sinners, as you love your souls, despise not the riches of the goodness, and forbearance, and long suffering of the Lord; but know that his goodness should lead you