a striking figure, represents an ephah, (the largest dry measure among the Jews, and therefore calculated to express the greatness of the divine forbearance,) into which the wickedness of the people was thrown; till it was filled God bore with it; but when filled, a mass of lead, denoting the firmness, immutability, and heaviness of the divine counsel, was placed upon it; and two women with wind in their wings, the swift executioners of God's vengeance, bore it to the land of perpetual desolation. (Zech. v. 6, &c.)

7. The Lord is patient, that sinners may be brought to repentance. "The long-suffering of God is salvation," says Peter, (2 Pet. iii. 15.) and in a text already quoted he assures us, "God is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." Ah! had it not been for this attribute, there would not have been a saint on earth, a redeemed sinner in heaven. Jesus would have been without a church, and his blood would have flowed in vain.

8. The Lord is patient, that sinners who continue impenitent may at last be without excuse, and that his justice may shine the brighter in their condemnation. Ah! thou who triflest with the forbearance of God, will not thy mouth be closed, will not every excuse die upon thy lips, when in the light of eternity thou shalt see the number and the value of the means of grace, the public assistances and private helps which patience afforded thee, and the length to which thy neglected season of visitation was prolonged?

9. The Lord is patient to the wicked, that his power may be displayed; the greatness of his protection and providence be manifested in preserving the church in the midst of her enemies. Had there been

no Dioclesians and Neros, we should have had but a faint conception of the care with which God watches over his church and people.

Finally the Lord is patient with the wicked, that he may exercise the trust of his servants in him, and the "patience of his saints;" that he may call forth the graces of the righteous, and drive them with Habakkuk into their watch-tower, with David into the sanctuary, to study the judgments of God; that he may try their sincerity, sins being borne as heresies are permitted, that those that are approved may be made manifest; that we might live by faith and not by sight. Were a flaming sword to descend immediately on the head of the wicked, were punishment instantly inflicted on the ungodly, to walk by faith, in hope of invisible blessings, and in expectation of an unseen state, would be impossible; and of consequence the whole nature of the gospel dispensation must be changed.

These are some of the reasons why God is patient and long-suffering.

The inferences from this subject are numerous and important: listen to a few of them.

1. Is God infinitely patient? With what love to him should the consideration of this attribute inspire us? It is a more endearing perfection even than his goodness. The goodness which made us, which endued us with such exalted faculties, deserves our affection; but still more so does his patience to us, as sinners, after we have deserved the severest wrath, and the benefits which he has conferred upon us while we were rebels. Shame to our ungrateful hearts, that they do not more ardently love such a God!

2. Is God infinitely patient? What a motive to the

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deepest repentance. Despisest thou the riches of his goodness, and forbearance, and long-suffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?" (Rom. ii. 4.) Surely we must be filled with shame and confusion of face, when we meditate on the amazing forbearance of our God; often have we broken his laws, often we have forfeited our engagements, and yet were not bound with the chains of darkness. At such a time, may we say in the retrospect of our past lives, I provoked the Almighty by my sin, yet I felt not his sword; at such a time I blasphemed him, I scoffed at his word, or profaned his name; yet his thunder did not close my lips in death. For so long a time I remained in rebellion against him; yet he has not overwhelmed me with swift destruction.' Oh! look back upon the whole course of thy life; in every step of it dost thou not see proofs of thy guilt, and of the forbearance of the Eternal? In the midst of thy transgressions, He stood over thee, who, while he bore with thee, poor sinner, had an infinite hatred to thy sin; He whom thou insultedst, and who by one breath could have turned heaven and earth and all the inhabitants of both into nothing; He has been thus patient with thee year after year: the condemned criminal hails a reprieve for a week or a month; how much longer hast thou been reprieved from that prison of eternal despair, to which the broken law condemns thee? In the writings of Paul you must often have been struck with the warm gratitude with which he speaks of the divine forbearance towards him. Paul was about thirty years of age at his conversion; are there none before me who have for a still longer season experienced the patience of God, and who still have never exercised holy thankfulness for it? Oh! at

last repent! the day of divine forbearance is rapidly wasting away; neglect to improve it a little longer, and the shades of everlasting night will soon overtake you! Hell is full of those who enjoyed once the patience of God, and who through eternity will be filled with agony at their remembrance of their abuse of it. Perhaps among these unhappy spirits are some of thy former associates; the destroying angel hath hewn them down, and passed by thee the patience which still spares thee has ceased for them. Oh! no longer abuse it, and improve the season of thy visitation.

3. Is God infinitely patient? Christians, let us imitate him in this perfection of his nature. Ah! how little does he resemble God, who anxiously seeks revenge for every affront and indignity! How unlike the Most Perfect is the self-styled man of honour, who writes his revenge in wounds and death! His honour descends not from heaven, but bears the impress of hell. Since God has so long borne with us, we may surely bear with our fellow-men; they cannot insult and outrage us as much as we have outraged the Lord: as he is patient to us, so let us be to our enemies.

4. Is God infinitely patient? What a source of comfort is this to believers. If he has so much patience for his enemies, what treasures of mercy must he possess for his friends? If he is so slow to anger when his precepts are slighted, how ready must he be to give what he has promised, when his promisc is believed? If he bear with the open sins of his foes, will he not bear with the lamented infirmities of his people in worship? Will he not bind up bruised reed? Will he ever quench the smoking flax?

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5. Is God infinitely patient? Then how patient should we be in all the afflictions with which he visits us? Even in the strokes of his rod we see his slowness to anger, and his forbearance; and in our greatest sorrows may find more occasion of thankfulness than repining. He sends us only temporal sorrows where eternal are due; and we may always say, "Thou hast punished us less than our iniquities do deserve." Our murmurs must be criminal against him who is so long-suffering.

6. Is God infinitely patient? Who then will not grieve at the reproaches and insults that are cast upon him? Among men, a patient sufferer, even though he is a deserved sufferer, excites our sympathy and pity. And wilt thou then, believer, have no concern for thy God, who patiently bears so many outrages? Arise then, Christian, range thyself openly on his side, who is thus basely treated by the works of his hands. Mourn for the sins of others; mourn for thine own sins against Him, who is so slow to anger.