Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

5. Though he doth defer his visible wrath, yet that very delay may be more dreadful than a quick punishment. He may forbear striking, and give the Reins to the hardness and corruption of mens hearts. He may suffer them, to walk in their own Counsels, without any more striving with them, whereby they make them selves fitter fuel for his vengeance. This was the fate of Israel, when they would not hearken to his voice, he gave them up to their own hearts lusts, and they walked in their own Counsels, Psal. 81.12. Though his sparing them, had the outward aspect of patience, it was a wrathful one, and attended with spiritual judgments, thus many abusers of patience may still have their line lengthened, and the Candle of prosperity to shine upon their heads, that they may increase their sins, and be the fitter mark at last for his arrows. They swim down the stream of their own sensuality with a deplorable security, till they fall into an unavoidable ⟨p. 819⟩gulf, where at last it will be a great part of their Hell, to reflect on the length of divine patience on Earth, and their inexcusable abuse of it.

5. Though he doth deferre his visible wrath, yet that very delay may be more dreadful than a quick punishment. He may forbear striking, and give the Reins to the hardness and corruption of mens hearts. He may suffer them, to walk in their own Counsels, without any more striving with them, whereby they make them selves fitter fuel for his vengeance. This was the fate of Israel, when they would not hearken to his voice, he gave them up to their own hearts lusts, and they walked in their own Counsels, Psal. 81.12. Though his sparing them, had the outward aspect of patience, it was a wrathful one, and attended with spiritual judgments, thus many abusers of patience may still have their line lengthned, and the Candle of prosperity to shine upon their heads, that they may encrease their sins, and be the fitter mark at last for his arrows. They swim down the stream of their own sensuality with a deplorable security, till they fall into an unavoidable ⟨p. 819⟩gulf, where at last it will be a great part of their Hell, to reflect on the length of divine patience on Earth, and their inexcusable abuse of it.