Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

III. His Patience is manifest in his unwillingness to execute his Judgments, when he can delay no longer. He doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the Children of Men. Lament. 3.33. Hebr. He doth not afflict from his Heart. He takes no pleasure in it, as he is Creator. The height of mens provocations. and the necessity of the preserving his rights, and vindicating his Laws, obligeth him to it, as he is the Governor of the World. As a Judge may willingly condemn a Malefactor to death out of affection to the Laws, and desire to preserve the order of Government, but unwillingly out of Compassion to the offender himself. When he resolved upon the destruction of the old World, he spake it, as a God grieved with an occasion of punishment, Gen. 6.6, 7. compared together. When he came to reckon with Adam, be walked, he did not run with his Sword in his hand upon him, as a mighty man with an eagerness to destroy him. Gen. 3.8. And that in the cool of the day, a time when men tired in the day, are unwilling to engage in a hard employment. His exercising judgment, is a coming out of his place. Isaiah 26.21. Micah 1.3. He comes out of his station, to exercise judgment; a Throne is more his place than a tribunal. Every prophecy loaded with threatenings, is called the Burden of the Lord, a burden to him to execute it, as well as to men to suffer it. Though three Angels came to Abraham about the punishment of Sodom whereof one Abraham speaks to as to God, yet but two appeared at the destruction of Sodom; as if the Governor of the World were unwilling to be present at such dreadful work. Gen. 19.1. And when the Man that had the inkhorn by his side, that was appointed, to mark those that were to be preserved in the common destruction, returned to give an account of the performing his commission, Ezek. 9.10. We read not of the return of those that were to kill, as if God delighted only to hear again of his works of Mercy, and had no mind to hear again of his severe proceedings.