229 Boo~ 111. Chap. 2 .Sect. 5 forrow : but here's the mifery, foules in diflre!fe had rather be poring on bell then heaven; rather frighting tbemfelves with the terro.urs of juilice, then fraying themfelves witlnhe flaggons of mercy . 0 my foul,how canfr thou more contradict the nature of Chrifr, and the Gofpel-defcription of Chrifr then to thmk him a deft royer of mt>n? but wherein appears the gracious nature of thrift ? I anfwer, in his being incarnate. Oh how could Jefus have manifefred more willingne!fe to fave, then that the Godhead iliou!d condefcend to a!fume our nature? furely chis is ten thoufc·llJd times more condefcention, then tor the greateH: King to become a fly , or a toad , to fave fuch creatures as to a des and flies. z. In his tender dealing with all fom offinners, he profe!fed that he carne into rhe wor!d,not rocondemne the world , but that the world thr ugh him might be Javed. He wept over {erufalem, faying, 0 [err.Jalem, {erufa.lem, how oft nwt!d I have gathered thee as an Hen ga.thereth her chick§ns under her wi11gs? but ye would not. I would, but ye would not. And when his Difciples wou.ld have had fire come down from heaven to confume thofe that refufed him, he repr~ws them, and tells them, they ~new not of what .Jpirits they were of. 3. In his care ofhis own ; not caring what he fuffered, fo they might be faved. Alas, alas, that the Lord Jefus iliould palfe .hrough a life ofmifery, to a death more rmfe. rable, to manifefr openly to the world the abunda11(e of his love; and yet that any foul fhould fu•p ·Cl: him of cr<Je!ty,or unw!llingneffe to fhew mercy 1 Ah my fi1ul , believe; never cry out, my .ftnnes, my finnes , m; jinnes; there is a gracious nature and inclinationinJefusChnfr to pard •n all. - 3. ConfiJer of that office of[; ving ; and fhewing mercy, which Chrifr hath fet up; this is more then meerely a gracious inclination ; Chrifi hath undertaken and fet up an office to feek, and to fave that which was loft; ,co bring home £haying fouls to his Father, to be the great peace-ma~er between God and man; ~o recoJ ,ci!e God to man, and man to God, and fo to be the H.:ad and Hu<band of his people. Is not here a worl d ofencouragement to believe in Jefus? what?. to conf1der him as one who hath made it his office to heal ~ and to relieve, and to reftore, and to reconcile ? among Merchants I remember they have an office of fecu~ity, tha t if you dare not adventure on ~eas, yet there you may be enfured, if you will but put in at that-
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