Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

It had been far from his Goodness, to give them a cause to suspect such a design in him, as his patience certainly did, had he not intended it. Had he preserved men only for punishment, 'tis more like, he would have treated men, as Princes do those they reserve for the Axe, or Halter, give them only things necessary, to uphold their lives till the day of Execution, and not have bestowed upon them so many good things, to make their lives delightful to them; nor have furnished them with so many excellent means to please their senses, and recreate their minds; it had been a mocking of them to treat them at the rate, if nothing but punishment had been intended towards them. If the end of it to lead men to Repentance, were easily intelligible by them, as the Apostle intimates. (Rom. 2.4. Which is to be linked with the former chapter, a discourse of the Gentiles. Not knowing, saith he, that the riches of his forbearance and goodness leads thee to repentance.) it also gives them some ground to hope for pardon. For what other argument can more induce to Repentance than expectation of Mercy upon a relenting, and acknowledging the crime. Without a design of pardoning Grace, his patience would have been in a great measure exercised in vain: For by mere patience God is not reconciled to a sinner, no more than a Prince to a Rebel by bearing with him. Nor can a sinner conclude himself in the favour of God, no more than a Rebel can conclude himself in the favour of his Prince; only this he may conclude, that there is some hopes, he may have the grant of a pardon, since he hath time to sue it out. And so much did the patience of God naturally signify, that he was of a reconcilable temper, and was willing men should sue out their pardon upon Repentance; otherwise, he might have magnified his Justice, and condemned men by the Law of Works.

It had been far from his Goodness, to give them a cause to suspect such a design in him, as his patience certainly did, had he not intended it. Had he preserv'd men only for punishment, 'tis more like, he would have treated men, as Princes do those they reserve for the Axe, or Halter, give them only things necessary, to uphold their lives till the day of Execution, and not have bestowed upon them so many good things, to make their lives delightful to them; nor have furnisht them with so many excellent means to please their senses, and recreate their minds; it had been a mocking of them to treat them at the rate, if nothing but punishment had been intended towards them. If the end of it to lead men to Repentance, were easily intelligble by them, as the Apostle intimates. (