Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

4. Consider how long he hath forborne his anger. A reprieve for a Week or a Month is accounted a great favour in Civil States; The Civil Law enacts,^* that if the Emperor commanded a man to be condemned, the Execution was to be deferred 30 days: because in that time the Princes anger might be appeased. But how great a favour is it to be reprieved 30 years for many offences, every one of which deserves death more at the hands of God, than any offence can at the hands of man? Paul was according to the common account but about 30 years Old at his Conversion, and how much doth he elevate Divine long suffering? Certainly there are many, who have more reason, as having larger quantities of patience cut out to them, who have lived to see their own grey hairs in a rebellious posture against God, before Grace brought them to a surrender. We were ⟨p. 825⟩all condemned in the Womb, our Lives were forfeited the first moment of our breath, but patience hath stopped the Arrest; The merciful Creditor deserves to have acknowledgement from us, who hath laid by his Bond so many years, without putting it in suit against us. Many of your companions in sin have perhaps been surprised long ago, and haled to an Eternal Prison; Nothing is remaining of them but their dust, and the time is not yet come for your Funeral. Let it be considered, that that God, that would not wait upon the fallen Angels one instant after their sin, nor give them a moments space of Repentance, hath prolonged the Life of many a sinner in the World to innumerable moments, to 420000 minutes in the space of a Year, to 8 Millions, and 400000 Minutes in the space of 20 Years. The damned in Hell would think it a great kindness, to have but a Year's, Month's, nay Day's respite, as a space to Repent in.

4. Consider how long he hath forborn his anger. A reprieve for a Week or a Month is accounted a great favour in Civil States; The Civil Law enacts,^* that if the Emperour commanded a man to be condemned, the Execution was to be deferred 30 dayes: because in that time the Princes anger might be appeased. But how great a favour is it to be reprieved 30 years for many offences, every one of which deserves death more at the hands of God, than any offence can at the hands of man? Paul was according to the common account but about 30 years Old at his Conversion, and how much doth he elevate Divine long suffering? Certainly there are many, who have more reason, as having larger quantities of patience cut out to them, who have lived to see their own gray hairs in a rebellious posture against God, before Grace brought them to a surrender. We were