in hearts rhat respect which, love (weak) cannot im∣print: yet God a (sovereign Majesty, a supream Great∣nesse, an absolute Justice) hath endured, and doth dai∣ly endure so many contradictions of men, that it seems, that to give credit to his mercy, he occasioneth some prejudice to the terrour of his Divinity. Many men (saith Tertullian) believe not in God, because they can∣not perswade themselves he is angry with the world, since they see it in so peacefull a state,
What is there more important for God, and men, then the knowledge of his Divine nature, then the fear of his Justice, then the much to be adored reverence of his sovereignty? Notwithstanding, as if he preferred the glory of his patience before his own Being; he rather chose patiently to suffer so many faithlesse, so many wicked ones, so many sinners, and that the lips of Blasphemers might dare to say there is no God; then that, taking revenge, in the heat of crimes, by punishing every sin, it should be said of him, Verily there is a God, but he is perpetually armed with lightning and terrours, ever inaccessible to the prayers of men, as those mountains which throw forth their enflamed bowels. Nay, much otherwise; he would be simamed the God of mercy, and the Father of goodnesse: whereupon Saint Gregory hath judiciously said, that his patience walks still hand in hand with his charity. Wherefote, as the love of God towards men is incomparable: so his pa∣tience, to indure the faults and infirmities of sinners, admits no comparison. How wany Pirates are there daily for whom God openeth seas? How many Idola∣ters, for whom he causeth stars to shine, fountains to stream, plants to sprout, harvests to wax yealow, and vines to ripen; as well as for the faithfull? How ma∣ny ungratefull and rebellious children are there, who every day receiving so many benefits from him, take them as Hogs do Acorns, still grunting towards the ground, and never casting an eye towards heaven? How many spirits (enemies of truth, and light disturbers of publick repose, transgressours of laws both Divine and Humane) do daily frame obstacles against the will of their sovereign Master, and yet he fuffers them, as if he had no other businesse in the world but patiently to bare, and vanquish by benefits, the malice, and in∣gratitude of men? Hierusalem is the stone of burthen (said the Prophet) which layeth a burthen upon God himself. What will this Oracle of God say, but the same conceits which Saint Hierom suggesteth unto us upon this passage, when he writes, that there were seen, in places where the Antient wrastlers did exercise, huge stones or certain bowls of Iron or Copper, with which they made tryall of their strength: and he witnesseth that he in a list saw one of those bowls which was so heavie, that he could not lift it up from the ground, although others robustuous of body, and eminent in those exercises, could easily carry it. Now mark my conceit, and say, that as those champions of antiquity had for object of their strength those weighty bulks, on which they daily exercised themselves: So like∣wise, God, that strong Gyant, and great Wrastler, as if he stood in need of exercise, takes the sphere of this great Universe which he beareth, & lifterh it up with all facility. He takes the Masse of so many mortals whom heaven covers, and the earth beareth, and there he findeth much resistance: he takes his people which he hath chosen and sanctified above all the nations of the world, and hence oft-times very many sensible displea∣sures come. A true stone of burden is that Christi∣an, that Ecclesiastick, that Priest, that Religious, who belyes his profession, who throws disorder and scan∣dall among the people by his ill example; yet God tolerateth him, God protecteth him, God continually obligeth him: and, if needs he must draw the sword of Justice out of the scabbard; it is with delayes, con∣sideration, and excessive Clemency. O infinite Good∣nesse! And who is that man, now, that will not bear with a man? and who is he that seeing God of nature impassible, busie in the world as about his stone of bur∣den from the beginning of Ages; cannot bear a small burden, whereto he finds himself tyed by duty, by con∣dition, and by nature!