Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

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⟩but gives us a long breathing time after the crime, that by retiring from our iniquities, and having recourse to his mercy, he may be with-held for ever from signing a Warrant against us, and change his Legal Sentence into an Evangelical pardon. 'Tis a special comfort to his people, that he is a Sanctuary to them. Ezek. 11.16. A place of refuge, a place of Spiritual Communications; But it is some refreshment to all in this life, that he is a defence to them: for so is his Patience called. Numb. 14.9. Their defence is departed from them; Speaking to the Israelites, that they should not be afraid of the Canaanites, for their defence is departed from them. God is no longer Patient to them, since their sins be full and ripe. Patience as long as it lasts, is a temporary defence, to those that are under the wing of it; but to the believer it is a singular comfort; And God is called the God of Patience and consolation in one breath. Rom. 15.5. The God of Patience and Consolation grant you to be like-minded; All interpreters understand it effectively. The God that inspires you with comfort, and cheers you with comfort, grant this to you. Why may it not be understood formally, of the Patience belonging to the nature of God? and though it be expressed in the way of Petition, yet it might also be proposed as a pattern for imitation, and so suits very well to the Exhortation laid down, ver. 1. which was to bear with the infirmities of the weak, which he presseth them to, ver. 3. by the example of Christ; And ver. 5. by the Patience of God to them, and so they are very well linked together.