Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

5. This Patience being a branch of Mercy, the exercise of it is founded in the Death of Christ. Without the consideration of this, we can give no account, why Divine Patience should extend it self to us, and not to the fallen Angels. The threatening extends it self to us, as well as to the fallen Angels. The threatening must necessarily have sunk man, as well as those glorious Creatures, had not Christ stepped into our relief.^* Had not Christ interposed to satisfy the Justice of God, man upon his sin had been actually bound over to punishment, as well as the fallen Angels were upon theirs, and been fettered in chains as strong as those Spirits feel. The reason why man was not hurled into the same deplorable condition upon his sin, as they were, is Christs promise of taking our nature, and not theirs. Had God designed Christ's taking their nature, the same Patience had been exercised towards them, and the same offers would have been made to them, as are made to us. In regard of these fruits of this Patience, Christ is said to buy the wickedest Apostates from him. 1 Pet. 2.1. Denying the Lord that bought them; such were bought by him, as bring upon themselves just destruction, and whose damnation slumbers not, ver. 3. he purchased the continuance of their lives, and the stay of their execution, that offers of Grace might be made to them. This Patience must be either upon the account of the Law, or the Gospel; for there are no other rules, whereby God governs the World; a fruit of the Law it was not, that spake nothing but Curses after Disobedience, not a letter of Mercy was writ upon that: And therefore nothing of Patience.

5. This Patience being a branch of Mercy, the exercise of it is founded in the Death of Christ. Without the consideration of this, we can give no account, why Divine Patience should extend it self to us, and not to the fallen Angels. The threatning extends it self to us, as well as to the fallen Angels. The threatning must necessarily have sunk man, as well as those glorious Creatures, had not Christ stept into our relief.^* Had not Christ interposed to satisfie the Justice of God, man upon his sin had been actually bound over to punishment, as well as the fall'n Angels were upon theirs, and been fettered in chains as strong as those Spirits feel. The reason why man was not hurl'd into the same deplorable condition upon his sin, as they were, is Christs promise of taking our nature, and not theirs. Had God design'd Christ's taking their nature, the same Patience had been exercised towards them, and the same offers would have been made to them, as are made to us. In regard of these fruits of this Patience, Christ is said to buy the wickedest Apostates from him.