A65285:373
A Body of Practical Divinity
A body of practical divinity consisting of above one hundred seventy six sermons on the lesser catechism composed by the reverend assembly of divines at Westminster : with a supplement of some sermons on several texts of Scripture / by Thomas Watson ...
London: printed for Thomas Parkurst, 1692
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
2. God lets Men go on in sin and prosper, that he may leave them more inexcusable, Rev. 2.21. I gave her space to repent of her Fornication. God adjourns the Sessions, spins out his Mercies towards Sinners, and if they repent not, his Patience will be a Witness against them, and his Justice will be more cleared in their Condemnation, Psal. 51.4. That thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
3. God doth not always let the wicked prosper in their sin, some he doth punish openly, that his Justice may be taken notice of, Psal. 9.16. The Lord is known by the judgment which he executeth: that is, his Justice is seen by striking Men dead in the very act of sin. Thus he struck Zimri and Cozbi in the Act of Uncleanness.
4. If God do let Men prosper a while in sin, his Vial of Wrath is all this while filling; his Sword is all this while whetting: and though God may forbear Men a while, yet long forbearance is no forgiveness. The longer God is taking his blow, the heavier it will be at last; as long as there is Eternity, God hath time enough to reckon with his Enemies. Justice may be as a Lion asleep, but at last this Lion will awake, and roar upon the Sinner. Doth not Nero, and Julian, and Cain now meet with God's Justice?
4. If God do let Men prosper a while in sin, his Vial of Wrath is all this while filling; his Sword is all this while whetting: and though God may forbear Men a while, yet long forbearance is no forgiveness. The longer God is taking his blow, the heavier it will be at last; as long as there is Eternity, God hath time enough to reckon with his Enemies. Justice may be as a Lion asleep, but at last this Lion will awake, and roar upon the Sinner. Doth not Nero, and Iulian, and Cain now meet with God's Justice?