1. ACCORDING to the scripture, communicating good to the creatures, is what is in itself pleasing to God: and that this is not merely subordinately agreeable, and esteemed valuable on account of its relation to a further end, as it is in executing justice in punishing the sins of men; which God is inclined to as fit and necessary in certain cases, and on the account of good ends attained by it: but what God is inclined to on its own account, and what he delights in simply and ultimately. For tho' God is sometimes in scripture spoken of as taking pleasure in punishing men's sins, Deut. 28. 63. "The Lord will rejoice over you, to destroy you". Ezek. 5. 13. "Then shall mine anger be accomplished, and I will cause my •ury to rest upon them, and I will be comforted". Yet God is often spoken o• as exercising goodness and showing mercy, with delight, in a manner quite different, and opposite to that of his executing wrath. For the latter is spoken of as what God proceeds to with backwardness and reluctance; the misery of the creature being not agreeable to him on its own account. Neh. 9. 17 "That thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great loving kindness". Psal. 103. 8. "The Lord is merciful & gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy". Psal. 145. 8. "The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger, and of great mercy". We have again almost the same words, Jonah 4. 2. Mic. 7. 10. "Who is a God like thee, that pardoneth iniquity, &c—He retaineth not his anger forever, because he delighteth in mercy". Ezek. 18. 32. "I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God; wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye". Lam. 3. 33. "He doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men". Ezek. 33. 11. "As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live: ⟨p. 87⟩turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel". 2 Pet. 3. 9. "Not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance".
1. ACCORDING to the scripture, communicating good to the creatures, is what is in itself pleasing to God: and that this is not meerly subordinately agreable, and esteemed valuable on account of its relation to a further end, as it is in executing justice in punishing the sins of men; which God is inclined to as fit and necessary in certain cases, and on the account of good ends attained by it: but what God is inclined to on its own account, and what he delights in simply and ultimately. For tho' God is sometimes in scripture spoken of as taking pleasure in punishing men's sins, Deut. 28. 63. "The Lord will rejoice over you, to destroy you". Ezek. 5. 13. "Then shall mine anger be accomplished, and I will cause my •ury to rest upon them, and I will be comforted". Yet God is often spoken o• as exercising goodness and shewing mercy, with delight, in a manner quite different, and opposite to that of his executing wrath. For the latter is spoken of as what God proceeds to with backwardness and reluctance; the misery of the creature being not agreable to him on its own account. Neh. 9. 17 "That thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great loving kindness". Psal. 103. 8. "The Lord is merciful & gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy". Psal. 145. 8. "The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger, and of great mercy". We have again almost the same words, Jonah 4. 2. Mic. 7. 10. "Who is a God like thee, that pardoneth iniquity, &c—He retaineth not his anger forever, because he delighteth in mercy". Ezek. 18. 32. "I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God; wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye". Lam. 3. 33. "He doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men". Ezek. 33. 11. "As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live:
