Patience then is only extended to sinful men, while in this world: for it is called, in scripture, _The riches of his goodness, and forbearance, and long-suffering_, Rom. ii. 4. and it is said to _lead_ those, who are the objects of it, _to repentance_; therefore there must be, together with the exercise of this perfection, a day or season of grace granted, which is called, in scripture, with a peculiar emphasis, the sinner’s _day, or the time of his visitation_, in which it ought to be his highest concern _to know the things of his peace_, Luke xix. 42, 44. and the gospel that is preached, in this season of God’s forbearance, is called, _The word of his patience_, Rev. iii. 10. so that there is something more in this attribute than barely a deferring of punishment. Accordingly God is said, to _wait that he may be gracious_, Isa. xxx. 18. and the effects and consequences thereof are various, (as may be said of all the other means of grace) so that sinners, who neglect to improve it, have not only thereby a reprieve from deserved punishment, but all those advantages of common grace, which attend it: but, with respect to believers, it may be said, as the apostle expresses it, _The long-suffering of our Lord is salvation_, 2 Pet. iii. 15. It is evidently so to them, and therefore God doth not spare them, that he may take a more fit opportunity to punish them; but he waits till the set time to favour them is come, that he may extend salvation to them; and, in this respect more especially, the exercise of this perfection is founded in the death of Christ. And inasmuch as the elect, who are purchased thereby, were, by the divine appointment, to live throughout all the ages of time, and to have the saving effects of his redemption applied to them, one after another, it was necessary that the patience of God should be so long continued, which is therefore glorified more immediately with respect to them, as the result thereof; and, in subserviency thereunto, it is extended to all the world. (2.) The patience of God has been displayed in various instances. _1st_, It was owing hereto that God did not immediately destroy our first parents as soon as they fell; he might then, without the least impeachment of his justice, have banished them for ever from his presence, and left their whole posterity destitute of the means of grace, and have punished them all in proportion to the guilt contracted; therefore that the world is continued to this day, is a very great instance of God’s long-suffering.