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I. THE NATURE OF THIS LONG-SUFFERING.

1. It is part of the Divine goodness and mercy, yet differs from both. The Lord is full of compassion, slow to anger.

(1) Long. suffering differs from mercy in respect to the object; mercy respects the creature as miserable: patience, or long-suffering, respects the creature as criminal; mercy pities him in his misery; long-suffering bears with the sin, and waits to be gracious.

(2) Long-suffering differs also from goodness, in regard to the object. The object of goodness is every creature, from the highest angel in heaven to the meanest creature on earth; goodness respects things in a capacity, or in a state of creation, nurseth and supporteth them as creatures. Long-suffering considers them as already created and fallen short of their duty; goodness respects persons as creatures; long-suffering, as transgressors.

2. Since it is a part of goodness and mercy, it is not insensibility. God's anger burns against the sin, whilst His arms are open to receive the sinner.

3. As long-suffering is a part of mercy and goodness, it is not constrained or faint-hearted patience.

4. Since it is not for want of power over the creature, it is from a fulness of the power over Himself.

5. As long-suffering is a branch of mercy, the exercise of it is founded on the death of Christ.

II. HOW THIS LONG-SUFFERING OR PATIENCE IS MANIFESTED.

1. His giving warning of judgments before they are commissioned to go forth.

2. In His unwillingness to execute His threatened judgments, when He can delay no longer.

3. In that when He begins to Send out His judgments, He doth it by degrees.

4. By moderating His judgments. "He rewardeth us not according to our iniquities."

5. In giving great mercies after provocations.

6. When we consider the greatness and multitude of our provocations.

III. THE GROUND AND REASON OF THIS LONG-SUFFERING TO US-WARD.

1. As a testimony of His reconcilable and merciful nature towards sinners.

2. That sinners may be brought to repentance.

3. For the continuance of His Church (Isaiah 65:8, 9).

4. That His justice may be clear when He condemns the impenitent.

5. In answer to the prayers of His people, His long-suffering is exercised towards sinners.To conclude —

1. How is the long-suffering of God abused?

2. Is the Lord long-suffering? How much better, therefore, is it to fall into the hands of God, than into the hands of man; the best of men.

3. We may infer from the Lord's long-suffering towards sinners, the value of the soul; He not only died to redeem it, but waits with unwearied patience and forbearance to receive it.

4. If the Lord be thus long. suffering to us-ward, who have so long and repeatedly rebelled against Him, ought not Christians to exercise forbearance and long-suffering one towards another? (Ephesians 4:1-6.)

(Pulpit Assistant.)

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KJV: O LORD, thou knowest: remember me, and visit me, and revenge me of my persecutors; take me not away in thy longsuffering: know that for thy sake I have suffered rebuke.

WEB: Yahweh, you know; remember me, and visit me, and avenge me of my persecutors; don't take me away in your longsuffering: know that for your sake I have suffered reproach.