Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

2. Consider how mean things we are, who have provoked him. What is man but a vile thing, that a God abounding with all riches, should take care of so abject a thing, much more to bear so many affronts from such a drop of matter, such a nothing creature! That he that hath anger at his command, as well as pity, should endure such a detestable, deformed creature by sin, to fly in his face. What is man, that thou art mindful of him? Psal: 8. [Greek or Hebrew] miserable, incurable man, derived from a word, that signifies to be incurably sick. Man is Adam, Earth from his Earthly Original, and Enosh incurable from his corruption. Is it not worthy to be admired, that a God of infinite Glory should wait on such Adams, worms of earth, and be as it were a servant, and attendant to such Enoshes, sickly and peevish creatures?

2. Consider how mean things we are, who have provoked him. What is man but a vile thing, that a God abounding with all riches, should take care of so abject a thing, much more to bear so many affronts from such a drop of matter, such a nothing creature! That he that hath anger at his command, as well as pity, should endure such a detestable, deformed creature by sin, to fly in his face. What is man, that thou art mindful of him? Psal: 8. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 miserable, incurable man, derived from a word, that signifies to be incurably sick. Man is Adam, Earth from his Earthly Original, and Enosh incurable from his corruption. Is it not worthy to be admired, that a God of infinite Glory should wait on such Adams, worms of earth, and be as it were a servant, and attendant to such Enoshes, sickly and peevish creatures?

3. Consider who it is, that is thus patient. He it is that with one breath, could turn Heaven and Earth, and all the inhabitants of both into nothing; That could by one Thunderbolt have razed up the Foundations of a cursed World. He that wants not instruments without to ruin us, that can arm our own Consciences against us, and can drown us in our own Phlegm. And by taking out one pin from our bodies, cause the whole frame to fall asunder. Besides, 'tis a God, that while he suffers the sinner, hates the sin, more than all the Holy men upon Earth, or Angels in Heaven can do; So that his patience for a minute transcends the patience of all creatures from the Creation to the Dissolution of the World: because it is the patience of a God, infinitely more sensible of the cursed quality of sin, and infinitely more detesting it.