Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

3. We see the reason, why sin is suffered to remain in the Regenerate; To show his Patience towards his own; for since this attribute hath no other place of appearance but in this World, God takes opportunity to manifest it: because at the close of the World, it will remain closed up in the Deity, without any further operation. As God suffers a multitude of sins in the World, to evidence his Patience to the wicked, so he suffers great remainders of sin in his people, to show his Patience to the Godly. His sparing mercy is admirable, before their conversion, but more admirable in bearing with them after so high an Obligation, as the conferring upon them special converting Grace.

3. We see the reason, why sin is suffered to remain in the Regenerate; To shew his Patience towards his own; for since this attribute hath no other place of appearance but in this World, God takes opportunity to manifest it: because at the close of the World, it will remain closed up in the Deity, without any further operation. As God suffers a multitude of sins in the World, to evidence his Patience to the wicked, so he suffers great remainders of sin in his people, to shew his Patience to the Godly. His sparing mercy is admirable, before their conversion, but more admirable in bearing with them after so high an Obligation, as the conferring upon them special converting Grace.

2. The second Use is of comfort. 'Tis a vast comfort to any, when God is pacified towards them; but it is some comfort to all, that God is yet Patient towards them, though but very little to a refractory sinner. His continued Patience to all, speaks a possibility of the cure of all, would they not stand against the way of their recovery. 'Tis a terror, that God hath anger, but it is a mitigation of that terror, that God is slow to it; While his Sword is in his sheath, there is some hopes to prevent the drawing of it; Alas, if he were all fire and sword upon sin, what would become of us? We should find nothing else but over-flowing deluges, or sweeping Pestilences, or perpetual flashes of Sodom's Fire and Brimstone from Heaven. He dooms us not presently to execution, ⟨p. 820⟩