Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

It differs also from goodness, in regard of the object. The object of goodness is every creature, Angels, Men, all inferior creatures, to the lowest worm that crawls upon the ground. The object of Patience is primarily man, and secondarily, those creatures that respect mens support, conveniency and delight; But they are not the objects of Patience, as considered in themselves, but in relation to man, for whose use they were created, and therefore God's Patience to them is properly his Patience with man. The lower creatures do not injure God, and therefore are not the objects of his Patience, but as they are forfeited by man, and man deserves to be deprived of them; As man in this regard falls under the Patience of God, so do those creatures which are designed for mans good. That Patience which spares man, spares other creatures for him, which were all forfeited by man's sin, as well as his own life, and are rather the testimonies of God's Patience, than the proper objects of it. The object of God's goodness then is the whole Creation, not a Devil in Hell, but as a creature is a mark of his goodness, but not of his patience. There is a kind of sparing exercised to the Devils, in deferring their complete punishment, and hitherto keeping off the day, wherein their final sentence is to be pronounced, yet the Scripture never mentions this by the name of slowness to anger, or long suffering. It can no more be called Patience, than a Princes keeping a Malefactor in chains, and not pronouncing a condemning sentence, or not executing a sentence already pronounced, can be called a Patience with him, when it is not out of kindness to the Offender, but for some reasons of State. God's sparing the Devils from their total punishment (which they have not yet, but are reserved in chains, under darkness for it. Jude 6.) is not in order to Repentance, or attended with any invitations from God, or hopes in them: and therefore cannot come under the same title as Gods sparing man; Where there is no proposal of mercy, there is no exercise of Patience. The fallen Angels had no mercy reserved for them, nor any Sacrifice prepared for them, God spared not the Angels, 2 Pet. 2.4. but delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment, i. e. he had no Patience for them:

It differs also from goodness, in regard of the object. The object of goodness is every creature, Angels, Men, all inferiour creatures, to the lowest worm that crawls upon the ground. The object of Patience is primarily man, and secondarily, those creatures that respect mens support, conveniency and delight; But they are not the objects of Patience, as consider'd in themselves, but in relation to man, for whose use they were created, and therefore God's Patience to them is properly his Patience with man. The lower creatures do not injure God, and therefore are not the objects of his Patience, but as they are forfeited by man, and man deserves to be depriv'd of them; As man in this regard falls under the Patience of God, so do those creatures which are design'd for mans good. That Patience which spares man, spares other creatures for him, which were all forfeited by man's sin, as well as his own life, and are rather the testimonies of God's Patience, than the proper objects of it. The object of God's goodness then is the whole Creation, not a Devil in Hell, but as a creature is a mark of his goodness, but not of his patience. There is a kind of sparing exercis'd to the Devils, in deferring their compleat punishment, and hitherto keeping off the day, wherein their final sentence is to be pronounced, yet the Scripture never mentions this by the name of slowness to anger, or long suffering. It can no more be call'd Patience, than a Princes keeping a Malefactor in chains, and not pronouncing a condemning sentence, or not executing a sentence already pronounced, can be call'd a Patience with him, when it is not out of kindness to the Offender, but for some reasons of State. God's sparing the Devils from their total punishment (which they have not yet, but are reserved in chains, under darkness for it.