?5 3ZOt Oatmonp ofMe Zítaírte2ftt íruteZ, Chap.I. ofLife to the converted is molt fuitable to his Mercy. The Angels who are infinitely inferiour to Him in Goodnefs, rejoyce in the Repentance and Salvation of Men; Much more God loth. There is an eminent difference between his inclinations to exercife Mercy, and Juftice. He ufes expreffions of regret when He rr.i. s,. 13. is constrained to punifh. o that my People hadheark- 8oC e.a. ned to me, and Ifrael had walked in my wayes.. And howfhall Igive thee up, Ephraim ? how(hall I. deliver thee, Ifrael? mine , heart is turned within me: As a merciful Judg, that pities theMan when he condemns the Malefactor. But He difpenfes Aéts of Grace '`c' 7'' 8' with pleafure, He pardons Iniquity, andpaffes by tranf grefons, becaufe He delights inMercy. 'Tis true, when Sinners are finally obdurate, God is pleafed in their Ruine, for the honour of his Juftice; yet 'tis not in fuch a manner as in their Converfion and Life. He loth not invite Sinners to tranfgrefs, that He may con- demn them : He is not pleafed when they give occafi- on for the exercife of his Anger. And above all, we have the clearelt and fureft difcovery of pardoning Mercy in the Death ofChrift. For what ftronger evi- dence can there be of God's readinefs to pardon, than fending his Son into the World to be a Sacrifice for Sin, that Mercywithout prejudice to his other Per- feetions might upon.our R.epentance forgive us? And what more rational argument is there, and more con- gruous to the Breaft of a Man,_ to work in him a feri- ous grief and hearty deteftation: of Sin, not. only as a curled thing, but as 'tis contrary to the Divine Will, than the beliefthat God, inwhole Power alone it is to pardon Sinners, is molt defirous to pardon them, if they will return to Obedience? The Prodigal in his extream diftrefs refolved to go to his Father with peni- tential acknowledgments and fubmiffion : and, to ufe the
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