Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

It leads to Repentance, [Greek or Hebrew], it conducts, which is more than barely to invite, it doth as it were take us by the hand, and point us to the way wherein we should go, and for this end it was exercised not only towards the Jews, but towards the Gentiles, not only towards those that are within the pale of the Church, and under the dews of the Gospel, but to those that are in darkness, and in the shadow of death: For this discourse of the Apostle was but an inference from what he had treated of in the first chapter concerning the Idolatry and ingratitude of the Gentiles; since the Gentiles were to be punished for the abuse of it as well as the Jews, as he intimates. ver. 9. 'tis plain that his patience which is exercised towards the Idolatrous Gentiles, was to allure them to Repentance as well as others; and it was a sufficient motive in it self to persuade them to a change of their vile and gross acts, to such as were morally good. And there was enough in Gods dealing with them, and in that light they had to engaged them to a better course, than what they usually walked in. And though men do abuse Gods long-suffering, to encourage their impenitence, and persisting in their crimes, yet that they cannot reasonably imagine that to be the end of God, is evident their own gripes of Conscience; would acquaint them, that it is otherwise. They know that Conscience is a principle that God hath given them as well as Understanding, and Will and other Faculties. That God doth not approve of that, which the voice of their own Consciences, and of the Consciences of all men under natural light, are utterly against. And if there were really in this forbearance of God an approbation of mens crimes, Conscience could not frequently and universally in all men check them for them. What Authority could Conscience have to do it? But this it doth in all men. As the Apostle. Rom. 1.22. They know the judgment of God, that those that do such things, which he had mentioned before, are worthy of death. In this thing the Consciences of all men cannot err: They could not therefore conclude from hence Gods approbation of their iniquities, but his desire that their Hearts should be touched with a Repentance for them.

It leads to Repentance, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, it conducts, which is more than barely to invite, it doth as it were take us by the hand, and point us to the way wherein we should go, and for this end it was exercised not only towards the Jews, but towards the Gentiles, not only towards those that are within the pale of the Church, and under the dews of the Gospel, but to those that are in darkness, and in the shadow of death: For this discourse of the Apostle was but an inference from what he had treated of in the first chapter concerning the Idolatry and ingratitude of the Gentiles; since the Gentiles were to be punished for the abuse of it as well as the Jews, as he intimates. ver. 9. 'tis plain that his patience which is exercised towards the Idolatrous Gentiles, was to allure them to Repentance as well as others; and it was a sufficient motive in it self to perswade them to a change of their vile and gross acts, to such as were morally good. And there was enough in Gods dealing with them, and in that light they had to engaged them to a better course, than what they usually walked in. And though men do abuse Gods long-suffering, to encourage their impenitence, and persisting in their crimes, yet that they cannot reasonably imagine that to be the end of God, is evident their own gripes of Conscience; would acquaint them, that it is otherwise. They know that Conscience is a principle that God hath given them as well as Understanding, and Will and other Faculties. That God doth not approve of that, which the voice of their own Consciences, and of the Consciences of all men under natural light, are utterly against. And if there were really in this forbearance of God an approbation of mens crimes, Conscience could not frequently and universally in all men check them for them. What Authority could Conscience have to do it? But this it doth in all men. As the Apostle.