Vol. VII. fel of God against themselves, and refifting fuch means as would have brought Tyre and Sidon, Sodom and Gomorrah to repentance; till they had defpised the Doctrine of Life and Salvation, delivered to them by the Son of God, and confirmed from Heaven, by the clearest and greatest Miracles; and by wicked hands had crucified and flain the Son of God, and the Saviour of the World. Nay, even after this greateft of fins that ever was committed, God waited for their Repentance forty Years, to fee if in that time they would be brought to a fenfe of their fins,and to know the things which belonged to their peace. And no wonder if after fuch provocations, and fo much patience, and fo obftinate an impenitency, the goodness of God at laft gave way to his juftice, and wrath came upon them to the utmost. So that all these Inftances rightly confidered, are rather commendations of the Divine Goodness, than just and reasonable objections againft it; and notwithstanding the feverity of them, it is evident that God is good, from the primary inclinations of his nature; and fewere only upon neceffity, and in cafe of just juft provocation. And to be otherwife, not to punifh infolent Impiety and incorrigible Wickedness, in a fevere and remarkable manner, would not be goodness, but a fond indulgence; not patience, but ftupidity; not mercy to Mankind, but cruelty; because it would be an encouragement to them to do more mischief, and to bring greater mifery upon themselves. So that if we fuppofe God to be holy and juft, as well as good, there is nothing in any of thefe Inftances, but what is very confiftent with all that .goodness which we can fuppofe to be in a holy, and wife, and just Governour, who is a declared Enemy to Sin, and is refolved to give all fitting discountenance to the breach and violation of his Laws. It is neceffary in kindness and compaffion to the reft of Mankind, that some should be made remarkable Inftances of God's severity, that the punishment of a few may be a warn ing to all, that they may hear and fear, and by avoiding the like fins, may prevent the like feverity upon themfelves. And now I have, as briefly as could, explained and vindicated the ག good Vol. VII. Vol. VII. goodness of God; the confideration whereof is fruitful of many excellent and useful Inferences, in relation both to our Comfort and our Duty. But these I shall refer to another op portunity. [81] SERMON IV. The Goodness of God. PSAL. CXLV. 9. The Lord is Good to all, and his tender I Have made feveral Difcourfes upon this Argument, of the goodne of God; fhewing what it is; on what accounts we afcribe it to God what are the Effects and large extent of it to the whole Creation, and more particularly to Mankind; and, in the laft place, confidered the several Objections which feem to lie against it. I proceed now to the Application of this excellent Argument, the confidederation whereof is fo fruitful of ufeful Inferences, in relation both to our Comfort and Duty. And, I. This Vol. VII. Vol. VII. I. This fhews us the prodigious folly and unreasonableness of Atheism. Most of the Atheism that is in the World, doth not fo much confift in a firm perfwafion that there is no God, as in vain wishes and defires that there were none. Bad Men think it would be a happiness to them, and that they should be in a much better condition, if there were no God, than if there be one. Nemo deum non effe credit, nifi cui deum non effe expedit, no Man is apt to disbelieve a God, but he whofe Intereft it is that there should be none. And if we could fee into the Hearts of wicked Men, we fhould find this lying at the bottom, that if there be a God, he is juft and will punish fin, that he is infinite in power and not to be refifted, and therefore kills them with his terror fo often as they think of him; hence they apprehend it their intereft, that there fhould be no God, and wish there were none, and thence are apt to cherifh in their Minds a vain hope that there is none, and at laft endeavour to impofe upon themselves by vain reafonings, and to fupprefs the belief of a God, and to ftifle their natural ap |