A Sermon on Occasion of a public Fall. 33 f voufly againft God. He is not extreme to SERM. mark the failures of his fervants in any ca- XIII. pacity ; he paffes by a multitude of lefi`er of- fences ; nay, he is flow to anger, and his juftice Both not fuddenly exert itfelf in pu- nishing even great crimes ; as Solomon ob- ferves upon the condu t of providence to- wards fanners, fo may every attentive perfon at all times, * That fèntence againfi evil works is not fpeedily executed. And the apoftle -j- Paul teaches us, that he endured 'with much long-Aping the vets of his wrath, who, by their incorrigible wicked- nefs and obftinate impenitency, fitted them- felves for remedilefs deftruäion at laft. Efpe- cially, the divine proceedings in the way of vengeance towards large communities of men are always leifurely; and that branch of good- nefs called patience, is wonderfully exercifed. When the wickednefs of the antediluvian world was grown fo enormous and univerfal, that it is faid in fcripture II, men were be- come altogether flesh or carnal, and the ima- ginations of their hearts were only evil conti- nually, fo that fpeaking after the manner of * Ecclef. viii. t 1. ¢ Rom. ix. 22. g Oen. vi. 3. men,
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