Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

1. 'Tis a comfort, in that 'tis an argument of his Grace to his people. If he hath so rich a Patience to exercise towards his enemies, he hath a greater treasure to bestow upon his friends. Patience is the first attribute, which steps in for our Salvation, and therefore called Salvation. 2 Pet. 3.15. Something else is therefore built upon it, and intended by it, to those that believe. Those two letters of his name, a God keeping Mercy for Thousands, and forgiving iniquity, transgressions and sin, follows the other Letter of his long suffering in the Proclamation. Exod. 34.6, 7. He is slow to anger, that he may be merciful, that men may seek, and receive their pardon. If he be long suffering, in order to be a pardoning God, he will not be wanting in pardoning those who answer the design of his forbearance of them. You would not have had sparing mercy to improve, if God would have denied you saving mercy upon the improvement of his sparing goodness. If he hath so much respect to his enemies, that provoke him, as to endure them with much long suffering, he will surely be very kind to those that obey him, and conform to his will. If he hath much long suffering to those that are fitted for destruction, Rom. 9.22. he will have a muchness of mercy for those that are prepared for Glory by Faith and Repentance. 'Tis but a natural conclusion a gracious Soul may make, if God had not a mind to be appeased towards me, he would not have had a mind to forbear me; but since he hath forborne me, and given me a heart to see, and answer the true end of that forbearance, I need not question, but that sparing Mercy will end in saving, since it finds that Repentance springing up in me, which that Patience conducted me to.

1. 'Tis a comfort, in that 'tis an argument of his Grace to his people. If he hath so rich a Patience to exercise towards his enemies, he hath a greater treasure to bestow upon his friends. Patience is the first attribute, which steps in for our Salvation, and therefore called Salvation. 2 Pet. 3.15. Something else is therefore built upon it, and intended by it, to those that believe. Those two letters of his name, a God keeping Mercy for Thousands, and forgiving iniquity, transgressions and sin, follows the other Letter of his long suffering in the Proclamation.