(22) [What] if God, willing to shew [his] wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the (y) vessels of wrath fitted to (23) destruction:
(22) The second answer is this, that God, moreover and besides that he justly decrees whatever he decrees, uses that moderation in executing his decrees, as is declared his singular mercifulness even in the reprobate, in that he endures them a long time, and permits them to enjoy many and singular benefits, until at length he justly condemns them: and that to good end and purpose, that is, to show himself to be an enemy and avenger of wickedness, that it may appear what power he has by these severe judgments, and finally by comparison of contraries to set forth indeed, how great his mercy is towards the elect.
(y) By vessels, the Hebrews understand all types of instruments.
(23) Therefore again, we may say with Paul, that some men are made by God the creator for destruction.