Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

2. His justice and righteousness are not prejudiced by his patience. There is a hatred of the sin in his holiness, and a sentence past against the sin in his justice, though the execution of that sentence be suspended, and the person reprieved by patience, which is implied; Eccles. 8.11. Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily: therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil; Sentence is past, but a speedy execution is stopped.

2. His justice and righteousness are not prejudiced by his patience. There is a hatred of the sin in his holiness, and a sentence past against the sin in his justice, though the execution of that sentence be suspended, and the person reprieved by patience, which is implyed; Eccles. 8.11. Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily: therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil; Sentence is past, but a speedy execution is stopt.

Some of the Heathens who would not imagine God unjust, and yet seeing the villainies and oppressions of men in the World remain unpunished, and frequently beholding prosperous wickedness, to free him from the charge of injustice, denied his providence, and actual Government of the World: for if he did take notice of humane affairs, and concern himself in what was done upon the Earth, they could not think an infinite goodness and Justice could be so slow, to punish oppressors, and relieve the miserable, and leave the World in that disorder under the injustice of men. They judged such a patience as was exercised by him, if he did govern the World, was drawn out beyond the line of fit and just. Is it not a presumption in men to prescribe a rule of Righteousness and conveniency to their Creator? It might be demanded of such, whether they never injured any in their lives? and when certainly they have one way or other; would they not think it a very unworthy, if not unjust thing, that a person so injured by them should take a speedy and severe revenge on them? And if every man should do the like, would there not be a speedy dispatch made of Mankind? Would not the World be a shambles, and men rush forwards to one another's destruction, for the wrongs they have mutually received? If it be accounted a virtue in man, and no unrighteousness, not presently to be all on fire against an offence; by what right should any question the consistency of Gods patience with his justice? Do we praise the lenity of Parents to children, and shall we disparage the long suffering of God to men? We do not censure the righteousness of Physicians and Chirurgeons, because they cut not off a corrupt member this day as well as to morrow? And is it just to asperse God, because he doth defer his vengeance, which man assumes to himself a right to do? We never account him a bad Governor, that defers the trial, and consequently the condemnation and execution of a notorious offender, for important reasons, and beneficial to the public, either to make the nature of his crime more evident, or to find out the rest of his complices by his discovery. A Governor indeed were unjust, if he commanded that which were unrighteous, and forbade that which were worthy and commendable;