[2.] It is not ignorance, as not knowing the fittest time when to put a period to the course of the world or of our lives. That cannot be imagined, for his waiting is guided by judgment : Isa. xxx. 18, ' He waiteth that he may be gracious ; for he is a God of judgment' He delayeth till the fit time come of putting an end to the troubles of the faithful and the sins of the wicked ; for he guideth all things with wisdom, and will take hold of the fittest season and occasion of putting his designs in action.
[3.] It is not from forgetfulness of his promise, ' For he is ever mindful of his holy covenant,' Ps. cxi. 5. He hath promised to come, to accomplish the deliverance of his own, and the punishment of the wicked, and he doth not forget what he hath promised.
[4.] Not from change of counsel ; for he is Jehovah, that changeth not. Men change out of the mutability of their nature, or because they have not a due foresight of all possible difficulties ; but, 1 Sam. XV. 29, ' The .strength of Israel will not lie nor repent ; for he is not a man that he should repent.'
[5.] Not from impotency and weakness, as if he could not execute what he hath promised. That among men is the cause of delay. Men must do as they can. Sometimes they must be patient perforce ; they want strength to puni.sh when they have a just cause, and a good mind to it ; as when David had a strong mind to punish and put Joab to death for the murdering of Abner, but Joab was too potent : 2 Sam. iii. 39, ' I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me.' They had too strong a party in the army and among the soldiers. But this case is not incident to God, who is able to dissolve all things in an instant, at the beck and nod of his will.
2. By assignment of the true cause why the world and the present state of things is not dissolved.
[1.] Many that belong to the purposes of God's grace are not yet born and come into the world ; and all things in the world are con- tinued and preserved with a subserviency to God's decrees. Tiiis you shall find in that sometimes providences are shortened: Mat. xxiv. 22, 'For the elect's sake those days shall be shortened ;' that the nation might not wholly be wasted and worn out, that they might not have
230 ' SERMON UrON 2 PETER III. 9.
too great a trial. God had elect among them, whom he would pre- serve ; the chosen among the Jews whom God would gather in the appointed time. But, on the contrary, here in the text, time is enlarged for their sakes. All particular providences wherein they are concerned are dispensed with this reference, Eom. viii. 28 ; and all that act under God are carried on with this encouragement. For the apostle saith, 2 Tim. ii. 10, ' Wherefore I endure all things for the elect's sake, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.' Surely the apostle knew what was his master's business, and for what end the gospel was to be preached, whatever became of the messengers : ' I endure all things for the elect's sake.' Providence being continued for their sakes, he was to continue his labours in the gospel, whatever entertainment he met with.
[2.] Many of them are not yet converted. They are as yet brands lying in the burning, hidden in the polluted mass of mankind, and God will draw them forth ; for, John vi. 27, ' All that the Father giveth me shall come to me.' And God will draw them forth in a way suitable to his glory and their temper as men ; which requireth time till they come to years of discretion, and pains to work upon their souls by commands, threatenings, and promises, and alluring motives, and sometimes disappointments in their worldly concernments ; and every one of these multiplied one after another ; and after many refusals of his renewed offers, and slighting means, they are at length gained and overcome by his powerful love.
Observe here two things —
(1.) That God gaineth the elect by the same means which are pro- ppunded to the reprobate. He dealeth in common with mankind in the external means, showing no more favour to the one than to the other. They both, it may be, live under the same ministry, yet one is taken and the other is left.
(2.) That it is long ere many of the elect are gained. They may withstand many a call, both from God's word and providence; but because it is night for the present, we cannot say that it will never be day. And then when they are gained, it requireth some time to bring them to that measure of grace that God hath intended to work in them, that he may fit them for glory, and we may grow into that perfect age which we are appointed unto in Christ: Eph. iv. 13, ' Till we all come to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.' The edification of the body of Christ is a work that is still kept afoot, until all that are given to Christ of the Father be efi'ectually called, and united with Christ the head, and every one of them attain to their full and perfect nieasure of spiritual growth ; and so long the world endureth.