Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

2. He doth often give warning of Judgments, that he might not pour out his wrath. He summons them to a surrender of themselves, and a return from their Rebellion, that they might not feel the force of his Arms. He offers peace before he shakes off the dust of his feet, that his despised peace might not return in vain to him, to solicit a revenge from his anger. He hath a right to punish upon the first Commission of a crime, but he warns men of what they have deserved, of what his Justice moves him to inflict, that by having recourse to his mercy, he might not exercise the rights of his Justice. God sought to kill Moses for not circumcising his Son. Exod. 4.24. Could God, that sought it, miss of a way to do it? Could a creature lurch, or fly from him? God put on the garb of an enemy, that Moses might be discouraged from being an instrument of his own ruin: God manifested an anger against Moses for his neglect, as if he would then have destroyed him, that Moses might prevent it, by casting off his carelessness, and doing his duty. He sought to kill him by some evident sign, that Moses might escape the judgment by his obedience. He threatens Nineveh by the Prophet with destruction, that Nineveh's Repentance might make void the Prophecy. He fights with men by the Sword of his mouth, that he might not pierce them by the Sword of his wrath. He threatens, that men might prevent the execution of his threatening; He terrifies, that he might not destroy, but that men by humiliation may lie prostrate before him, and move the bowels of his mercy to a louder ⟨p. 802⟩sound, than the voice of his Anger. He takes time to whet his Sword, that men may turn themselves from the edge of it. He roars like a Lion, that men, by hearing his voice, may shelter themselves from being torn by his Wrath. There is patience in the sharpest threatening, that we may avoid the scourge. Who can charge God with an eagerness to revenge, that sends so many Heralds, and so often before he strikes, that he might be prevented from striking? His threatenings have not so much of a black flag, as of an Olive branch. He lifts his up hand, before he strikes, that men might See and avert the stroke. Isaiah 26.11.

2. He doth often give warning of Judgments, that he might not pour out his wrath. He summons them to a surrender of themselves, and a return from their Rebellion, that they might not feel the force of his Armes. He offers peace before he shakes off the dust of his feet, that his despised peace might not return in vain to him, to sollicite a revenge from his anger. He hath a right to punish upon the first Commission of a crime, but he warns men of what they have deserved, of what his Justice moves him to inflict, that by having recourse to his mercy, he might not exercise the rights of his Justice. God sought to kill Moses for not circumcising his Son.