A discourse concerning meekness and quietness of spirit to which is added, A sermon…

First, Let us admire the Patience and Forbearance of the God of Heaven, in that he bears so much, and so long, with those that thus speak against Him and his Holy Religion. The Affront hereby given Him is very great, and (we would think) intolerable, even Hard Speeches that reflect upon an Infinite Majesty, have in them a kind of Infinite Malignity. He hears and knows all that which is said against Him, and against his Truth and Ways, and as a Jealous God resents it. He hath always Power in his Hands to punish the proudest of his Enemies, nor would their immediate Ruin be any Loss to him, and yet Sentence against these Evil Words and Works is not executed speedily: ¹Be astonished O Heavens, at this, and wonder O Earth! that those wretches which rebel against the Beams of such Light and Glory, which spurn at the Bowels of such Love and Grace, are not immediately made the visible Monuments of Divine Wrath and Vengeance, and like, Sodom and Gomorrah, set forth for an Example! That the Blasphemers and Scoffers of these last Days ⟨p. 28⟩are not instantly struck Dumb, struck Dead. That He who hath so much said against him, yet doth himself keep silence, ²and doth not answer all these Reproaches and Contradictions (as he easily could) in Thunder and Lightning. Though his Silence and Forbearance is turned to his Reproach even by those that have the Benefit of it, who therefore think him altogether such an one as themselves, ³and take occasion from his Patience to question his Faithfulness, and challenge his Justice, saying, Where is the Promise of his Coming? Yet he bears, and his Patience is stretched out even to Long-suffering,⁴ because he is not willing that any should perish, nor that any means should be left untried to prevent their perishing. Therefore he bears with Sinners, because this is the Day of his Patience, and of their Probation. The Wrath of God is revealed from Heaven in the Word of God,⁵ that we might be awed by Faith, more than in present Providences, which would be an awe to Sense. But there is a Day coming, a dreadful Day,