God in his infinite mercy bears long with the transgressors of his law. In the days of Abraham he declared that the idolatrous Amorites should still be spared until the fourth generation; for their iniquity was not yet full, and he could not give command for their destruction. For more than four hundred years he spared them, but when, instead of turning to repentance, they hardened their hearts in iniquity, and made war upon his people, their day of probation closed, and the mandate went forth for their utter extinction. With unerring accuracy, the Infinite One keeps a record of the impiety of nations and individuals. Long is his mercy tendered to them, with calls to repentance; but when their guilt reaches a certain limit, which he has fixed, then mercy ceases her pleadings, and the ministration of wrath begins.{LP 318.1}

I sin uendelige barmhjertighed bærer Gud længe over med sine lovovertrædere. På Abrahams dage erklærer han at amoritternes afgudsdyrkelse skulle spares indtil fjerde slægtsled; for deres syndighed var endnu ikke fyldt op, og han kunne ikke give ordre på deres udslettelse. I mere en fire hundrede år sparede han dem, men i stedet for at angre, forhærdede de deres hjerter i ondskab, og førte krig imod hans folk, deres prøvedag afsluttes, og der gik ordre ud om deres fuldstændige udryddelse. Med ufejlbarlig nøjagtighed, holder den Almægtige regnskab med folks og enkeltpersoners ugudelighed. Han har længe næret barmhjertighed imod dem, med kald til anger; men deres skyld når en vis grænse, som han har fastsat, så ophører nåden sin bønner, og vredens tjeneste begynder.