[1] H. E. I. 2295.
[2] H. E. I. 2250.
Where men are bent upon wrong there is always a strong
tendency to elect a character of God that is not very just,
but that is very kind--so kind that behind it they may gain
some security in their wrong course. And when God's
long-suffering and patience are opened up to men they often
say, "Well, if God is a being that is tender and loving, I
need not be in a hurry to leave off my evil ways. He will
bear with me a little longer, and I do not believe that He
will account with me for my petty transgressions." Men
deliberately employ God's mercy and goodness to violate His
feelings. . . . That is infernal; it is inhuman, because
kindness seems to lay almost every man under a debt of
gratitude. A dog, even, feels itself laid under a debt of
gratitude by kindness. It is only men who are corrupted
that would ever think of making goodness, and kindness, and
generosity towards them the ground on which to base a
violation of these qualities. And yet hundreds say, "God is
good, and we will go on a little longer in sin." Yes, He is
infinitely good. He has been patient with you; He has
longed for you; He has sent ten thousand invisible mercies
to you, besides those visible mercies he has showered upon
you; He has been long-suffering and forgiving; He has sunk
in the depths of the sea thrice ten thousands of
transgressions; He did it yesterday, He is doing it to-day,
and He will do it to-morrow; and shall you argue with
yourself that because God is so good you will go on and
insult Him, and wound Him, and injure Him? Or shall the
goodness of God lead you to repentance and newness of life?
I beseech of you, for the sake of honour and manhood, do
not tread upon God's goodness, and generosity, and
magnanimity to offend Him more.--_Beecher._
[3] H. E. I. 2296-2301, 2349.
[4] H. E. I. 2316, 2317.
[5] H. E. I. 604, 605.
[6] H. E. I. 2283, 2284.