Rome ruin'd by VVhite Hall, or, The papall crown demolisht

SECT. 5.

THere be also severall other opinions concerning the manner* 1.1 how God hardneth the heart, which being very profitable, will not be amisse to be rehearsed.

As that God doth it by way of patience, and long suffering, be∣cause (say they) the Lord doth suspend his Judgements, and doth not presently punish the wicked; whereupon they abusing Gods pa∣tience* 1.2 and long suffering are hardned, and this exposition they ground upon that place of Scripture, Rom. 2. 4. Despisest thou the riches of his bountiousnesse, patience, and long suffering, not know∣ing that the goodnesse of God leadeth thee to repentance; but thou after thy hardnesse, and heart that cannot repent, heapest up against thy self wrath against the day of wrath. Of which patient for∣bearance, they make a figurative Locution; Like (say they) as a* 1.3 Master should say to his servant that abuseth his gentlenesse, it is I that have made the thing, because I did not punish thee.

Again, As the Sun (say they) hardneth the Clay, and mollifi∣eth* 1.4 the Wax, so the goodnesse of God hardneth the vessels of wrath, and mollifieth the vessels of mercy. And this is true, that God doth use a great patience, and long suffering toward sinners, and that for these reasons:

1. That thereby Gods goodnesse and mercy may appeare, and the great malice and frowardnesse of mens hearts, that cannot be drawn to repentance by the Lords rich and bounteous mercy. 2. By this Gods Judgements appeare to be most just, when he pu∣nisheth the hard-hearted and incorrigable, as it is evident in the example of Pharaoh. 3. By this also God teacheth his children to be patient, and long suffering one towards another. 4. This patience of God though some abuse it, yet others profit by it, and

their hard hearts are mollified, for though Pharaohs heart by Gods sparing of him became more obstinate, yet Nebuchadnezzar at length by the Lords lenity, goodnesse, and fatherly correcti∣on, was brought to know himselfe, and confess the true God. 5. Though the evill and wicked should reap no profit by the Lords wonderfull patience, yet the Elect, and such as are ordained to salvation, are thereby called, and brought to Grace, as the Apostle sheweth of himself; For this cause (saith he) was I re∣ceived unto mercy, that Jesus Christ should shew on me all long suffering, unto the example of them, who in time to come should be∣leeve on him, 1 Tim. 1. 16. so that this is true which is affirmed by the Authors, but this is not all; God hath yet a further stroke in the hardning of the heart, then by connivance, and long animity towards it.

2. There be others also who hold that the Lord hardneth the* 1.5 heart subtrahendo, gratiam, by with-drawing his grace; God (say they) giveth men over to a reprobate sence, to harden the heart, to blinde, &c. not because these things are done by God, which proceed of mens malice, but because whilst God doth justly forsake men, these things doe happen unto them; the Lord therefore hardneth whom he will not mollifie, and blindeth them whom he will not illuminate.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Other opini∣ons touching Gods ••••••d∣••ing the heart.
• * 1.2

  As by way of patience and longsuffering.
• * 1.3

  Simile.
• * 1.4

  Why ••he Lord useth such great patience
• * 1.5

  By withdraw∣ing his grace.