Body of Divinity, Book 2 · Chapter 13
CHAP. XIII. Of GODS Patience, Longsuffering, Holinesse, Kindenesse.
GOd is Patient, Psal. 103. 8. Iob 2. 17. Gods patience is that whereby heNahum. 1. 3. Isa. 30. 18. bears the reproach of sinners, and defers their punishments; or it is the most bountiful will of God aPatientia est, qua ita iram suam modoratur Deus erga creaturas, ut vel poenas disserat, vel iram uno momento non essundat. Wendelinus., whereby he doth long bear with sin which he hateth, sparing sinners, not minding their destruction, but that he might bring them to repentance.
This is aggravated:
1. In that sin is an infinite injury offered to him, therefore in the Lords Prayer it is called a Trespasse.
2. He is infinitely affected bGod is sensible of the wrong offered to him, and provoked to wrath thereby, 2 Pet. 3. 13. he not onelyonly restrains his anger, but gives them time to repent. Master Bolton saith, If but any tender-hearted man should sit one hour in the Throne of God Almighty, and look down upon the earth as God doth continually, and see what abominations are done in that hour, he would undoubtedly in the next set all the world on …ire.with this; hence in the Scripture he is said to be grieved with our sins, to be wearied, as a cart full of sheaves; he is said to hate sin, for although he be such a perfect God that none of our sins can hurt him, yet because he is a holy and just God, he cannot but infinitely distaste sinners. Psal. 7. 11, 12,
3. He can be avenged immediately, if he please: Men many times are patientAmos 9. 2, 3. When man begins through Gods forbearance, to have high Atheistical thoughts about him, Psal. 50. 20. and to strengthen himself in a way of sinning, Eccles. 8. 11. and to grow to that height as to mock at his judgements, Isa. 43. 14. 2 Pet. 3. 2, 3. perforce, they would be revenged, but they know not how to compasse it. He apprehends at the same time what he hath done for us, and withal our unthankfulnesse, unkindenesse, and yet endured Cain, Saul, Iudas a long time.
4. He beholds the universality of sin, all men injure him, the idolatry of the Heathens blasphemy among Christians, the prophaner sort are full of oathes, adulteries; the better, negligent, lazy, cold. Men make it their businesse to sin against him. Ier. 32. 31.
5. God not onelyonly not punisheth, but still continues his benefits; the old drunkard is still alive.
6. He sets up a Ministry to invite us to come in, and we have that many years; Forty years long was I grieved with this generation.
7. In Christ patience was visible, there was living patience.Matth. 26. 39.
8. He afflicts lightly and mercifully to win us; he makes thee sick and poor, to see if it will make thee leave thy sinning.
Object. God seems to be very impatient by his severe judgements inflicted on Persons, Families, Churches, Nations.
Answ. 1. Such are very few in comparison of those to whom he shews great patience. 2. He is long patient to them, before he come upon them in justice. 3. He proceeds very deliberately and leisurely, when he doth punish such. 4. When at last he comes in judgement, it is in goodnesse to mankinde, and that they might be a warning to others.
God must punish sometimes, to evidence
1. That his patience is a powerful patience, proceeding from riches of goodnesse, Rom. 2. 4. not a patience perforce.
2. To shew that it is a knowing patience, and comes not from ignorance▪
3. That it is a just patience.
4. That it is a holy patience, Psal. 50. 21.
7. God is Longsuffering, Exod. 34. 6.This is in effect the same with patience. Num. 14. 18. Nehem. 9. 17. 2 Pet. 3. 9, 15, 20. Longanimity is toward them of whom we can, patience toward them of whom we cannot be revenged. Nisi Deus expectaret impium, non inveniret quem glorificaret pium. Aug.
Longsuffering is that whereby he expecteth and waiteth a long time for repentance; or it is the most bountiful will of God, not suffering his displeasure suddainly to rise against his creatures offending, to be avenged of them, but he doth warn them before hand, lightly correct, and seek to turn them unto him. Christ endured Iudas till the last.
Long-suffering is a dilation of revenge, though we be provoked; it is a further degree of patience, patience lengthened out further, Rom. 9. 22.
God endures to wonderment above measure, beyond all expectation.
Reasons. 1. That men might not despair, 1 Tim. 6. 16. 2. For his glory. 3. From his love; a husband will forbear his wife. 4. To leave men without excuse, Gen. 6. 3. and 15. 16. 1 Pet. 3. 20. God cannot properly suffer, for all things are active in him.
It denounceth a woe to all those who despise and abuse the riches of Gods patienceConsectaries from Gods patience and long-suffering. to us; the Apostle calls it, Treasuring up wrath; that is, as a man lays up something every day till at last he get a great sum, so thou addest still to thy damnation; God will so much more severely damn thee, by how much he hath dealt more kindely with thee.
We should glorifie God for sparing us so long, and waiting for our repentance; we should be like him, slow to anger, *Prov. 14. 29. Posse & nolle nobile. The discretion of a man deferreth his anger, and his glory is to passe by an offence, saith Solomon. What patience is.patient, not easily provoked, Rom. 15. 4. Magistrates, Ministers, and all must be like God, wait for repentance; Eccles. 8. 11.
It reproves them that hence take liberty to sin (patience abused turns into fury) and are the worse for Gods forbearance, Matth. 24. 48. Luke 12. 45.
Christian patience is that grace of God whereby a man is enabled through conscience of his duty to God, to bear what evils God shall lay on him, and to wait for the promises not yet performed, it is the fruit of faith and hope. Faith and patience are often coupled together.
As by faith we enjoy God, and by love we enjoy our neighbor; so by patienceIt is a grace of the sanctifying Spirit of God, whereby the soul doth freely submit to the will of God in bearing its own burthen without inordinate for row or fretting discontent. Patience is 1. Commanded, Luke 1. 19. Iames 5. 7. 2. It is commended to us by special examples: 1. Of Christ, Heb. 12. 2. Rev. 1. 9. 2. Of all the Saints, 1 Pet. 2. 20, 21. Iames 5. 10. we enjoy our selves, saith a Father.
We had need of patience, that our faith may be lively, and our hope continue to the end. Without patience we cannot worship God, believe in him, love him, pray, hold out, deny our selves, suffer losses, bear reproaches. God will exercise us with many trials, defer the bestowing of good things, therefore we have need of patience.
There is a threefold patience, 1. In working, Rev. 3. 26. Hab. 2. 10. to be able to go through the difficulties which clog holy duties. 2. In waiting, to wait Gods time in fulfilling the promises, Hab. 2. 3. 3. In suffering, when we quietly submit to the will of God in bearing our own burthen, Levit. 10. 3.
A Christian in these suffering times way write this as his Motto, Sit miser, qui miser esse potest. Let him be miserable that can be miserable, 2 Cor. 4. 8, 9. andPeriissem nisi periissem. 6. 10.
8. God is Holy, the holy one, Isa. 40. 25. Hosea 11. 9. Hab. 3. 3. Job 6. 10. he is called The holy one of Israel, above thirty times, see Isa. 41. 20. & 43. 14. that is, Israels most eminently and incommunicable one, or his God. The holy one of Iacob, Isa. 49. 23. Holy is his name, Luke. 1. 49. I the Lord am holy, and, Be you holy as I am holy, Psal. 99. Isa. 6. 3. it is three times repeated, Holy, holy, holy (or, The holy one, the holy one, the holy one; the Lord of Hosts; so Rev. 4. 8. where according to some Greek Copies it is nine times (that is, thrice three times) repeated. AsThere is a twofold holiness: 1. Original, absolute, and essential in God, which is the incommunicable eminency of the divine Majesty exalted above all, and divided from all other eminences whatsoever. For that which a man taketh to be, and makes an account of as his God (whether it be such indeed or by him fu…cied onelyonly) he ascribes unto it, in so doing, a condition of eminency above and distinct from all other eminencies whatsoever, that is of Holinesse, Psal. 49. 18. Isa. 17. 7. Habak. 1. 12. 2. Derived or relative in the things which are his, properly called, Sacra, holy things. Mede on Matth. 6. 9. Isa. 6. the Angels ascribe holinesse to him, so do the Saints in heaven, Rev. 6. 10. and the godly on earth, Exod. 15. 11. 1 Sam. 2. 2. All the persons of the Trinity are holy, God the Father is called The holy one of Israel, Christ is holy, Dan. 9. 24. Psal. 16. 10. The Spirit is the Spirit of holinesse.
Holinesse in the general nature of it is the moral goodnesse of a thing.
Holinesse in man is that vertue whereby he giveth and yieldeth himself to God, in doing all for and to him, in regard of which the actions he doth are acceptable to God. Holinesse in the creature, is a conformity to the holinesse in God, in respect of the principle, rule, pattern and parts of holinesse.
Gods holinesse is that excellency of his nature, by which he gives himself (as I may say) unto himself, doing all for himself, and in all, and by all, and above all, aiming at his own pleasure and glory; or it is the absolute purity of his nature, and his abhorring of evil, Exod. 34. 30. Revel 15. 4. he is holy without iniquity, Psal. 5. 5, 6. and 145. 17. 1 Sam. 2. 2. Hab, 1. 13. Zeph. 3. 5. the Lord is said to swear by his Holinesse, Psalm 89. 35. Amos 4. 2. that is, by himself.
Holinesse is in God essentially and originally, 1 Sam. 2. 2. he is the Author of allThere is a threefold holinesse: 1. Essential, the holinesse of God, all one with God himself, Exod. 15. 11. 2. Habitual, an inherent holinesse, such as it the holinesse of righteous men, so Abraham, Iob, David, and all the Patriarchs, are called Saints and holy men; this the Greeks call foreign, the Latines Sanctimonia. 3. Relative, a peculiar relation which a thing hath unto God, in regard of propriety of possession, or speciality of presence: That which is holy after this manner, the Greeks call foreign, the Latines Sacrum, for persons, things, times. Mr. Mede on Deut. 3. 8. holinesse; he is called Holinesse it self, Isa. 63. 15. all the holinesse in Saints or Angels comes from God, and is a quality in the creature. He is holy of himself, men and Angels are sanctified by him; his holinesse is a substance, in men it is an accident. The essence of many Angels continues, though their holinesse be lost; most men never had holinesse, and the man would remain, though his holinesse were lost.
2. Holinesse is in him without measure, in the highest degree, mans may be limited, it is in him immutable and infinite, like himself, and cannot be lessened or augmented.
3. He is holy formally and subjectively, holinesse is a conformity to the will of God; how holy then must he needs be, when his nature and will are all one?
4. Objectively, he is the object of all holinesse, for there is no holinesse but whatOur holinesse is terminated in him. Exod. …. 26. hath him for the object.
5. Exemplarly, Be ye holy, as I am holy, so Christ bids us learn of him, for he was meek and humble. He as Mediator was impeccable; he was God and man in one person, actus est suppositi; He discovers unholinesse in the best of the Creatures, Iob 15. 15. and cannot be tempted with sin, Iames 1, 13. or take pleasure in that which is evil, either in persons, or actions, Hab. 1. 13.
God is holy in heaven, holy in earth, holy in hell it self, holy in glorifying Angels, holy in justifying men, holy in punishing devils, holy in his Nature, Word Works, Glorious in holinesse, Exod. 15.
Reasons of Gods Holinesse:
1. This is the foundation of all his other excellencies; for if he were not thus taken up with himself, he could not be perfect in wisdom, power, justice, mercy, neither could he carry himself to the creature as were fit, if he did not first carryWhy God must be holy. God hath manifested his holinesse, 1. In his word, his precepts. 2. By instituting the Sabbath to be kept holy, Isa. 58. 3. 3. By causing a holy Tabernacle and Temple to be erected, wherein were all holy thing. 4. By instituting holy Priests. 5. By inflicting his judgements on those which prophane holy things, 2 Sam. 6. 7. and 6. 19, 20. himself to himself as were fit. If a King do not duly regard himself in his Royal authority, he can never duly govern his subjects.
2. Else he could not be perfectly happy, whatsoever thing looks to somewhat without it self, to make it be well and contented, and enjoy it self, that is but imperfectly happy, because not happy without another. That alone is capable of perfect blessednesse, which hath all things in and of it self, without respect to any other thing, by which it enjoys it self.
God is holy in these particulars:
1. In his will; whatsoever God wils is holy, whether it be his secret will and purpose, or his revealed will and word.In his works: 1. Of creation, Acts 17. 28. Eccles. 7. ult. 2. Of providence, Psal. 45. 17. & 103. 1. unusquisque operatur ut est.
2. In all his works, Ephes. 1. He hath predestinated us to be holy, this is the end of all his graces, to make us like himself; this is likewise the end of his Ordinances, his Word and Sacraments are to make us holy, so his works of justice, Christs death.
3. In his Laws and Commandments, Psal. 19. his Commandments are just and right, and require holinesse of heart, not suffering the least sinful motion, Thou shalt not covet.
4. What ever relates to him is holy:
1. The place of his habitation, Psal. 11. 4. & 20. 6. 1 Cor. 3. 7.
2. His Attendants: 1. The Angels, Luke 9. 26. Mat. 25. 31. 2. His people, Lev. 10. 1. Dan. 12. 7.
3. All his Services are holy, 2 Chron. 35. 30. Psal. 29. 1.
Holinesse is the beauty of all Gods attributes, without which his wisdom would be subtilty, his justice cruelty, his Soveraignty Tyranny, his mercy foolishMr Scudder. pity.
This distinguisheth him from all Heathen gods which were wicked, holinesseHolinesse is (as it were) the Character of Christ Jesus, the Image of God, the beauty, the strength, the riches, the life, the soul of the soul, and of the whole man. It is a very beam of the Divine light, called therefore by the Apostle, The Divine Nature. distinguisheth between Angels and Devils, Heaven and Hell.
Holinesse is the working of God to his own end in all things suitable to his nature. When the Saints in heaven glorifie God for his chiefest excellency, it is thus, Holy, holy, holy: We finde not in the Scripture any of Gods Attributes thrice repeated, Wise, wise, wise, or Almighty, almighty, almighty, but Holy, holy, holy, because the excellency of God consists chiefly in that. Master Burrh. Iac. Seed.
The Holinesse of God is an universal Attribute, something of holinesse runs through all the Attributes; his power is holy, Isa. 52. 10. his truth. Psal. 109. 4. his mercy, Acts 13 34. it is unchangeable, he is so holy, that he cannot be tempted to evil, Iames 1. 13.
He is the principle and patern of all holinesse in the Creature:
1. The principle, Levit. 20. 8. and 21. 8, 15. he conveys holinesse by Ordinances and Sabbaths, Deut. 7. 6. and afflictions, Isaiah 27. 9. see 1 Thessalon. 5. 23. and 1. 1.
2. The patern of holinesse, 1 Pet. 1. 11. the more any have been holy, the more they have eyed the holinesse of God, Rev. 4. 9. Ephes. 5. 1. his holinesse is a rule to it self, we should have the Law written in our hearts.
Amongst the Turks, Jews, Indians, Persians, and the Papists themselves at this day, the most zealous and holiest, as they conceive them in their Religion, are most esteemed and honored, and onelyonly in the greater part of the Protestant Churches, the most knowing and tenacious of the Evangelical truth, and the most strict and godly in their lives are hated, nicknamed, disgraced and villified. Sir Simonds D' Ewes Primitive practice for preserving truth, Sect. 17.
1. This condemns the Pope, who proudly arrogates the Title of the most *Qua de re Iepida fabula acci…isse narratur in concilio Tridentino, de quodam Episcopo, quem offendit ille Pap… titulus propterea, Nam si Deus inquicbat tantum sanctus, quomodo cjus vic…i…us dici potest sanctissimus? Adut magnum periculum …ade causa. Drusius in 15. num, c. 64.holy,Consectaries from Gods Holinesse. and holinesse it self; the high Priest was to be holy, Numb. 16. 7. but he will be termed most holy.
2. Hypocrites, civil honest men, and prophane men, who scoff at purity and holinesse which is Gods excellency, it was the Devils device to bring that slander on earthly holinesse, A yong Saint an old Devil.
Angelicus juvenis senibus satanisat in annis.
Erasmus (in his pietas puerilis) saith, that proverb was devised by the Devil himself; it is contrary to that of Solomon, Prov. 22 6. It was a great commendationSee Eccles. 12. 1. Psal. 119. 9. It is a great honor to seek the Lord betimes, M…ason was an old disciple, See Rom. 16. 17. of Origen, that he learned the Scripture of a childe, Eusebius. The like Paul saith of Timothy, 2 Tim. 3, 15.
3. Confutes merits, the Angels are impure in his sight.
4. We should be holy like God, not in degree; but in resemblance, 1 Pet. 1. 15, 16. we should be holy in our affections, actions. Holinesse should be prized andThis of all Attributes is the most over-awing to a sinful creature. We should especially think of the holinesse of God, when we worship him, Iohn 17. 11, 22. Psalm 3. because then we draw nigh to God. Levit. 10. 3. and his end in ordering ordinances is, that we might be partakers of his holinesse. If we may judge of the privation by the habits perfection, how great an evil must sin be, when God is so great a good. admired; the Seraphims sing one to another, Holy, holy, holy, Isa. 6. 3. They choose this out of all Gods Attributes to praise him for. We should pray to God with pure hearts, worship him holily, Iohn 4. 24. Zach. 14. 20, 21. that is, men should be holy in those ordinary natural actions of eating and drinking.
5. This ministers comfort to the Saints, and assures them that they shall finde favor with him; and is for a terror to the unholy, which are altogether carried to themselves, led by themselves, and set up themselves, and these things below. They love that which God loathes; God must necessarily hate sin, because it is so contrary to him: That he doth so, it appears, 1. In his depriving man of an infinite good, infinite glory and happinesse. 2. In inflicting on him infinite torments. A holy heart may draw much comfort from Gods holinesse. 1. He will distinguish between the precious and the vile, they have to do with a holy God, Num▪ 16. 2, 3. Mal. 3. ult. 2. Thou hast communion with this holy God, there is sweetnesse and comfort in conversing with holy men, after this life they shal behold the beauty of Gods holinesse, and give him the glory of it. 3. He will take special care of them, that they shall not be polluted, Exod. 29. 33, 34. 4. What holinesse is there in any of their services, it shall be accepted, and their holinesse begun shall be perfected.
6. We should labor after holinesse, 1. To go quite out of our selves and all creatures, and go wholly, as it were unto God, making him the ground, measure and end of all our actions, striving above all things to know him, esteem him, and set all our powers upon him. This is the felicity of the creature, to be holy as God is holy; this is the felicity of the Saints in heaven, they care for nothing but God, are wholly and altogether carried to him and filled with him. He is all in all unto them, as he is all in all unto himself. In being thus carried to him, they are united to him and enjoy him, and are blessed.foreign q…st foreign l…y the E…ym…logists, holy is as much as not earthly. Holinesse is a separation both from sinne and the world. The will of God is the rule of holinesse, as his nature is the patern of it, Sec Act, 13. 22.
There are Saints on earth, as the Scripture shews, Psal. 16. 3. and 132. 9 though the Papists deny this. Men are said to be Saints here: 1. In regard of Sacramental holinesse: Baptism is called the laver of Regeneration, Tit. 3. Sanctum, quasi sanguine tinctum. Isidore. Such are dedicated to God, and set a part for a holy use. 2. In regard of inherent holinesse, the denomination is from the better part, so man is called a Reasonable creature, from his reasonable soul; and men (though in part corrupt) are called Saints from the image of God, in the better part. 3. In regard of imputed holinesse; Christ is made to us Wisdom, Righteousnesse, Sanctification.
Sanctification is 1. The end of our Election, Ephes. 1. 4. 2. Of our Redemption, Luke 1. 75.
Holinesse is 1. A beautiful thing, Psal. 110. 3. therefore Christ calls his Spouse The fairest of all women. 2. A beneficial thing makes one bear all afflictions easily, makes all our services acceptable to God, will give us a sight of God, Matth. 5. 8.
9. God is Kinde, Exod, 34. 7. Keeping Kindenesse for thousands, so it should beThis Attribute of kindenesse is the same with goodnesse before spoken of, viz Communicative goodnesse. rendred; he spake of Gods mercy in the sixth verse, see Ephes. 2. 7. Titus 3. 4. it is called, Great kindenesse, Neh. 9▪ 17. Marvellous kindenesse, Psalm 31. 21. Merciful kindnesse, Psalm 119. 2. Everlasting kindenesse, Isa 54▪ 8. Excellent loving kindenesse, Psalm 36▪ 7. Multitude of loving kindenesse, Isa. 63. 74. We should shew loving kindenesse unto Christ, and one unto another, 2 Peter 1. 3. 1 Corinth. 13. 4.
Some mention two other vertues:
2. Gods Jealousie, by which he will have all due glory given to him, and suffers not the least part of it to be communicated to the creature. This care of hisIsa. 48. 11. & 42. 8. Exod. 20. 4. honor and fame is manifest by the grievous punishments inflicted on those who have dared to arrogate part of the Divine glory to themselves, as on the building of Babel, Gen. 11. …. the Bethshemites, 1 Sam. 6. 19. Nebuchadnezzar, Dan. 4. 29, 30. and Herod, Acts 21. 22, 23.
2. His Humility, by which God descends to our capacity, and graciously providesPsal. 113. 5, 6. for our weaknesse, examples of which are both Gods familiar conversing andGen. 18. 1 Sam. 30. 8. conference with Moses and Abraham, interceding for Sodom, with David and others, and especially the incarnation of Christ.