Englands duty under the present gospel liberty from Revel. III, vers. 20

First,¹ The exercise of his Patience is a standing testimony of his reconcilable and merciful nature towards sinful Man. This he showed forth in his Patience toward Paul; a great example of his merciful Nature for a pattern to ⟨p. 96⟩them that should hereafter believe on him, 1 Tim. 1. 16. The long-suffering of God is a special part of his manifestative glory; and therefore when Moses desired a sight of his glory, Exod. 34. 6. he proclaims his Name, The Lord, the Lord God merciful and gracious, long-suffering and abundant in goodness and truth. He would have poor sinners look towards him as an atoneable Deity, a God willing to be reconciled, a God that retaineth not his anger for ever; but if poor sinners will take hold of his strength,² and make peace with him, they may have peace. This long-suffering is an attribute very expressive of the Divine Nature; he is willing sinners should know whatever their provocations have been, there is room for pardon and peace, if they will yet come in to accept the terms. This patience is a Diadem belonging to the Imperial Crown of Heaven; the Lord glories in it as what is peculiar to himself, Hos. 11. 9. I will not execute the fierceness of my anger, for I am God, and not Man. q. d. Had I been as Man, the holyest, meekest, and mortifiedst man upon Earth, I had consumed them long ago; but I am god, and not Man, my Patience is above all created Patience; no Husband can bear with his Wife, no Parent with his Child, as God hath born with you; that's one reason of Christs waiting upon trifling sinners, to give proof of his gracious, merciful, and reconcilable nature towards the worst of sinners.

First,¹ The exercise of his Patience is a standing testimony of his reconcilable and merciful nature towards sinful Man. This he shewed forth in his Patience toward Paul; a great example of his merciful Nature for a pattern to