Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

3. His slowness to anger is manifest to the Israelites. You know how often they are called a stiff-necked people; they are said to do evil from their youth, i. e. from the time wherein they were erected a Nation and Common-wealth; and that the City had been a provocation of his anger, and of his fury from the day that they built it, even to this day, i. e. the day of Jeremiah's Prophecy, that he should remove it from before his face. Jer. 32.31. From the days of Solomon say some, which is too much a curtailing of the Text, as though their provocations had taken date no higher than from the time of Solomon's rearing the Temple, and beautifying the City, whereby it seemed to be a new Building. They began more early, they scarce discontinued their revolting from God, they were a grief to him 40 years together in the Wilderness, Psal. 95.10. Yet he suffered their manners, Act. 13.18. He bore with their ill behaviour, and sauciness towards him; And no sooner was Joshua's head laid, and the Elders that were their conductors, gathered to their fathers, but the next Generation forsook God, and smutted themselves with the Idolatry of the Nations; Judg. 2.7.10, 11. And when he punished them by prospering the Arms of their enemies against them, they were no sooner delivered upon their cry and humiliation, but they began a new Scene of Idolatry. ⟨p. 800⟩And though he brought upon them the power of the Babylonian Empire, and laid chains upon them, to bring them to their right mind. And at 70 years end he struck off their chains, by altering the whole posture of affairs in that part of the World for their sakes; Overturning one Empire, and settling another for their Restoration to their ancient City. And though they did not after disown him for their God, and set up Baal in his Throne, yet they multiplied foolish traditions, whereby they impaired the Authority of the Law; yet he sustained them with a wonderful Patience, and preferred them before all other people in the first offers of the Gospel; And after they had outraged not only his servants the Prophets, but his Son the Redeemer, yet he did not forsake them, but employed his Apostles to solicit them, and publish among them the Doctrine of Salvation.