I answer, that this must be more fully spoken unto when we come to remove that great objection against this whole truth which was mentioned before, taken from God's dealing with the sinning angels, whom he spared not. At present two or three observations will re- move it out of our way ; for, —
(1.) The case is not the same with the sinning angels and the 7'ace of mankind in all generations. There are no other angels in this condition, but only those individuals who first sinned in their own persons. They are not, in the providence and patience of God, multiplied and increased in ensuing times and seasons, but they continue the same individual persons who first sinned, and no more ; so that immediate execution of the whole punishment due unto their sin would not have prevented any increase of them. But now Avitli man it is otherwise ; for God continues his patience towards them to the production of millions of other persons, who were not actually in the first sin. Had not God so continued his forbearance, their being, and consequently tlieir sin and misery, had been prevented ; so that the case is not the same with sinning angels and men.
(2.) Indeed God exerciseth no 'patience toward the angels that sinned, and that because he had no forgiveness for them. So Peter tells us, 2 Epist. ii. 4, " God spai'ed not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of dark- ness." Immediately upon their sin they were cast out of the pre- sence of God, whose vision and enjoyment they were made for, and which they received some experience of; and they Avere cast into hell, as the place of their ordmary retention and of their present anguish, under the sense of God's curse and displeasure. And al- tiiough they may some of them be permitted to compass the earth, and to walk to and fro therein, to serve the ends of God's holy, wise providence, and so to be out of tlieir prison, yet they are still in their
Ver.4.] EVIDENCE OF FORGIVENESS WITH GOD. 451
cliains; for they Avere delivered unto chains of darkness, to be kept imto the last judgment. And in these things they He actually under the execution of the curse of God, so that there is indeed no patience exercised towards them. If a notorious malefactor or murderer be committed unto a dungeon, and kept bound with iron chains to pre- vent his escape, imtil the appointed day of his solemn judgment and execution, without the least intention to spare him, none "vvill say there is patience exercised towards him, things being disposed only so as that his punishment may be secure and severe. And such is the case, such is the condition of the angels that sinned; who are not, therefore, to be esteemed objects of God's patience.
(3.) The reason why the full cmd final jJUJiishment of these angels is reserved and respited unto the appointed season is not for their own sakes, their good, benefit, or advantage at all, but merely that the end of God's patience towards mankind might be accomplished. When this is once brought about they shall not be spared a day, an hour, a moment. So that God's dispensation towards them is nothing but a mere withholding the infliction of the utmost of their punish- ment, until he hath accomplished the blessed ends of his patience towards mankind.
But you will say, secondly, " Is it not said that God, ' willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endures with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction?' Rom. ix. 22; so that it seems that the end of God's endurance and long- suffering, to some at least, is only their fitting unto destruction."
Ans. 1. It is one thing to endure with much long-suffering, another thing to exercise and declare patience. The former only intimates God's withholding for a season of that destruction which he might justly inflict, which we speak not of; the other denotes an acting in a way of goodness and kindness for some especial end.
2. The next verse declares the great end of God's patience, and answers this objection : " That he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto lory," verse 23. This is the great end of God's patience, which whilst he is in the pursuit of towards the vessels of merc}^, he en- dureth others with much long-suffering and forbearance. This, then, is fully evident, that there could be no sufficient reason assigned of the patience of God towards sinners, but that there is forgiveness prepared for them that come to him by Christ.
And this the Scripture clearly testifies unto, 2 Pet. iii. 9. The question is. What is the reason why God forbears the execution of his judgment upon wicked and ungodly men? Some would have it that God is slack, — that is, regardless of the sins of men, and takes no notice of them. " No," saith the apostle ; " God hath another
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452 AN EXPOSITION UPON PSALM CXXX. [yer.4.
design in his patience and long-suffering." What is this? " It is to manifest that he is not willing we should perish." That is it which we have proved; for our freedom from destruction is by repentance, Avhich necessarily infers the forgiveness of sin. So Paul tells us that in the gospel is declared what is the end of God's patience and for- bearance: " It is," saith he, " the remission of sins," Rom. iii. 25.