Exposition of Romans 8-11, Chapter 9 · Verse 22
VERSE 22. Indured with long-ſuffering the veſſels of Wrath.
IN theſe words is contained the Act we ſpake of: which is induring: amplified two wayes. Firſt, by the manner, with long-ſuffering. Secondly, by the obiect, The veſſels of Wrath.
Long-ſuffering is a dilation of reuenge, though wee bee prouoked. Though the Greeke word be here tranſlated long-ſuffering, yet properly God cannot ſuffer: for all things are actiue in God: and whatſoeuer ſuffers, or is patient, fayles either in the eſſence, facultie, or Energie. The word here vſed, is hard to be tranſlated into our Tongue, wee borrow from the Latines to expreſſe it in one word, by Longanimitie. Betweene which Longanimitie, and patience, Chryſoſtome obſerues this difference: Chryſoſt. hom. 2. in Epiſt. ad Coloſ.Longanimity is towards them of whom wee can, Patience toward them of whom wee cannot be reuenged. So alſo Auguſtine: Aug. l. de. Pati.Patience is ſaid of God, not that hee ſuffers any euill, but becauſe hee expects ſinners to conuerſion.
doctrine God is patient towards ſinners, euen Reprobates, Ioel 2.13. Romans 2.4. 2. Pet. 3.9. He endured Cain a long time, ſuffered him to liue, to build Cities, to beget Children. So hee ſuffered Saul, Iudas, &c.
Vſe 1.Be thou patient after the example of thy heauenly Father; whoſe child how art thou, if thou ſuffereſt not, but repayeſt iniuries? Socrates, a Heathen Philoſopher, would willingly neither ſuffer, nor doe no wrong: but if he muſt chuſe one, he would rather chuſe to ſuffer, then to doe. But what ſpeake we of Heathen, when we hauehave God himſelfe patient toward Reprobates?
Say nor, I will recompence euill. God himſelfe yet beares with a number of hell-hounds Reprobates. Chriſt is not yet reuenged, nor the bloud of the Saints. Wilt thou bee moued at a croſſe-word, and thirſt after Reuenge? It may be ſweet to the fleſh, but it is hatefull to God. If thou haſt put vp wrong once or twice, thou thinkeſt thy ſelfe worthy to bee chronicled, as a rare example of Patience. How many thouſand times haſt thou prouoked God, and yet hee forbeares thee? Doe thou likewiſe toward thy neighbour. Remember the Parable of the mercileſſe Debter. Mat. 18.GiueGive the Pardon thou askeſt: Forgiue, that thou mayeſt bee forgiuen. When thou canſt ſo bridle thy affections, that being prouoked, and in thy power to reuenge; and yet for conſcience towards God thou forbeareſt, thinke thou haſt profited. That argues true Nobleneſſe.Poſſe & nolle, Nobile.
Vſe 2.For God to beare with his children which prouoke him, is much: but to ſuffer his enemies, who ſeeke not his fauour, and are the worſe becauſe they are forborne; to ſuffer a drunkard, whoremonger, &c. to liue and long, and to hauehave great meanes, and to hold his hands muſt argue an Infinite perfection.
Alas, what had become of the beſt of vsus, if there were not ſuch Longanimitie in GOD? We had not liued to reade theſe things. God might hauehave taken vsus away in our ſinnes; if hee had called vsus out of the world, ſome ten or twenty yeeres agoe, before we had repented, how ſhould wee hauehave done? If hee had vſed Martiall law to Manaſſes, Paul, Mary Magdalen, they had not ſhined now to the comfort of ſinners: Hee ſuffered the ill manners (the word is ſignificant) foreign. Act. 13.18.of the Iſraelites fortie yeeres in the wilderneſſe. Conſider thou which readeſt, how long hee hath ſuffered thee: let it moue thee to repentance, and to praiſe his patience.
Vſe 3.Here is comfort for poore ſinners: God is patient toward Reprobates, much more will he be toward the Elect. Hee which long forbeares Tyrants, drunkards, Enemies: will he be haſtie & inexorable toward his children? If he ſpare them which neuer grieue for their ſinnes, neuer regard his Word, will hee not much more ſpare them which repent that they hauehave offended him, which tremble at his Word, and ſeeke his fauour? If the Reprobate fare ſo well, much more wil he abound to vsus, in all riches of Grace and Conſolation.