Chap. 21. efn Fxpofition krpon the 73ookof J o r3. Veil 7. 651 The forsof Zerviah were too hard for David ; but there are none too hard for God. For none ofthefe reafons Both the Lord fuller wicked men, to live, become old, and mightie in po =.-er. We may anfwer the queftion affirmatively three wayes. Fitft, In reference unto God. S condly, In reference unto the godly, and Thirdly, In reference to the wicked themfelves. erefore doe the wicked live, and profper ? They are fuffered todoe fo in reference to God himfelfe. Firli, Toglorifie his patience, and long fuf :.ring. The fe attributes would not fhine forth with inch luftre in the world, did not wicked men liveand thrive in the world;if God fhould immediately dellroy every one that dothwickedly, he fhould be very juft, and his holineffe would appeare in this : but thole attributes of patience and long-fuffering would not appeare but when God fuffers the wicked to continue, and thole whom he is able every moment to dcftroy,to furvive many yeares,how cloth this li ft uphis glory, and tell us, that he is flow to wrath, though he begreat inpower ? Secondly, Inreference toGod. The Apoftle gives us an account why.(Rom.9.22.) fvbar ifGod, willing to fliew hri wrath, and to make his paver knowne, endured with much long., peering, the veffel.rofwrath fitted to deflrurtion ? What bath any man to fay, ifGod refpefting the further manifeftarion of his owne wrath, feeme to favour wicked men?Ifit be thus(faith the Apohle) what bath any man to fay to it? If asGod tuf- f rs them, to thew forth his own patience, and long fnff:ring here, fo to have the fuller blow at themhereafter, and to take (as it were) the more advantage in making his power known, even the power of his wrath. For this reafon,he endureth with mach long f fi ring the veffels ofwrath, firtrd to de lrutíron they ere fitted todeltruftionalready : and they are veffets:of wrath, fach as deferve to be filled with wrath, brim full with wrath every day :yet they are full of comforts, and continue fafe a long time : that their periftring at laft may make God more knowne in the greatneffe and irrefiftibilityofhis *power. Thepower ofGod is more knowne when onceit ateth ;' by .how much it flayed-1 the longer ®fo i o h upon Thirdly, men.
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