3. That a bare neglect to improve our present season, and day of grace, or to embrace the great salvation offered in the gospel, is an abuse of God’s patience; and this will certainly affect the greatest number of those who are favoured with the gospel dispensation; and, indeed, who are there that improve it as they ought? and therefore all are said more or less, to abuse the patience of God, which affords matter of great humiliation in his sight. Now that we may be duly sensible of this sin, together with the consequences thereof, let us consider; that this argues the highest ingratitude, and that more especially, in a professing people; therefore the apostle, reproving the Jews for this sin, puts a very great emphasis on every word, when he says, _Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness, and forbearance, and long-suffering?_ Rom. ii. 4. Let us also consider, that the consequence thereof is very destructive, inasmuch as this is the only opportunity that will be afforded to seek after those things that relate to our eternal welfare. What stress does the apostle lay on the word _now_, which is twice repeated, as well as the word _behold_, which is a note of attention, implying, that he had something remarkable to communicate, when he says, _Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation_, 2 Cor. vi. 2. And to this we may add, which is a very awakening consideration, that the abuse of God’s patience will expose finally impenitent sinners to a greater degree of his vengeance. Thus when the forbearance of God had been extended to Israel for many years, from his bringing them up out of the land of Egypt; and this had been attended all that time with the means of grace, and many warnings of approaching judgments, he tells them; _You only have I known, of all the families of the earth, therefore will I punish you_, that is, my wrath shall fall more heavily upon you, _for all your iniquities_, Amos iii. 2. and when God is represented, as coming to reckon with Babylon, the cup of his wrath must be _filled double; how much she hath glorified herself_, saith God, _and lived deliciously, so much sorrow and torment give her; for she saith in her heart, I sit as a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow_, Rev. xviii. 6, 7.