Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

What multitudes of sins is one profane wretch guilty of in the space of 20, 40, 50 years? Who can compute ⟨p. 808⟩the vast number of his transgressions, from the first use of reason to the time of the separation of his Soul from his Body; from his entrance into the World to his exit? What are those, to those of a whole Village of the like Inhabitants? What are those, to those of a great City? Who can number up all the foul mouthed Oaths, the beastly excess, the goatish uncleanness committed in the space of a day, year, twenty years in this City, much less in the whole Nation, least of all in the whole World? Were it no more than the common Idolatry of former ages, when the whole World turned their backs upon their Creator, and passed him by to sue to a Creature, a stock or stone, or a degraded spirit. How provoking would it be to a Prince to see a whole City under his Dominion deny him a respect; and pay it to his scullion, or the common Executioner he employs? Add to this the unjust invasions of Kings, the oppressions exercised upon men, all the private and public sins that have been in the World, ever since it began. The Gentiles were described by the Apostle, Rom. 1.29, 30, 31. in a black character, They were haters of God; yet how did the Riches of his patience preserve multitudes of such disingenuous persons, and how many millions of such haters of him breath every day in his Air, and are maintained by his bounty, have their tables spr••d and their cups filled to the brim, and that too in the midst of reiterated belchings of their enmity against him? All are under sufficient provocations of him to the highest indignation. The presiding Angels over Nations could not forbear, in Love and Honour to their Governor, to arm themselves to the destruction of their several charges, if Divine patience did not set them a pattern, and their obedience incline them to expect his Orders, before they act what their zeal would prompt them to. The Devils would be glad of Commission to destroy the World, but that his patience puts a stop to their fury […] well as his own Justice.

What multitudes of sins is one prophane wretch guilty of in the space of 20, 40, 50 years? Who can compute ⟨p. 808⟩