Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

and when we abuse those Creatures against him, which he supports for our use, how great is his patience to bear with us, that he doth not annihilate those Creatures, or at least embitter their use? What issue could reasonably be expected, from this consideration, but Oh wretched man that I am, to serve my self of Gods power, to affront him, and of his Long-suffering to abuse him? Oh infinite patience to employ that power to preserve me, that might have been used to punish me! He is my Creator, I could not have a being without him, and yet I offend him. He is my preserver, I cannot maintain my being without him, and yet I affront him. Is this a worthy requital of God? Deut. 32.6. Do you thus requite the Lord, would be the heart breaking reflection. How would it give men a fuller prospect of the depravation of their nature, than any thing else; that their corruption should be so deep and strong, that so much patience could not overcome it? It would certainly make a man ashamed of his nature as well as his actions.

and when we abuse those Creatures against him, which he supports for our use, how great is his patience to bear with us, that he doth not annihilate those Creatures, or at least imbitter their use? What issue could reasonably be expected, from this consideration, but Oh wretched man that I am, to serve my self of Gods power, to affront him, and of his Long-suffering to abuse him? Oh infinite patience to employ that power to preserve me, that might have been used to punish me! He is my Creator, I could not have a being without him, and yet I offend him. He is my preserver, I cannot maintain my being without him, and yet I affront him. Is this a worthy requital of God? Deut. 32.6. Do you thus requite the Lord, would be the heart breaking reflection. How would it give men a fuller prospect of the depravation of their nature, than any thing else; that their corruption should be so deep and strong, that so much patience could not overcome it? It would certainly make a man asham'd of his nature as well as his actions.