SE R MoNs of the Forgive11e(s of S r N s. di rcetca again!l: ob!l:inate Rebels that fruflrate the mofl powerful Methods of Mercy; and rejeCt the Call of God, in the Day of lus Grace; and by way of RetaliatiOn, thm Prayers are ineffeCtual,. and rejeCted tn the Day of lus Wrath. And that he IS fo highly and irrcconctleably provoked for thei~ defpi~ng Ius Mercy, is a cerram Itldication how highly he would have been pleafed w~rh their humble accepting it. Let none then by a vile a~d wretchc_d Sufpi~{on, that God's repeated Calls t<:> Stnncrs to recurn and ltve, d.o not ligmfy his fenous Will, detraCt from the Glory of lus Goodnefs, and blafpheme hiS unfpotted Holinefs. His excellent Greatnefs fecures us of his Swcerity. Why fl1ould ~:1 ~r~log~f~~~aj~~fo,~f ~~~:ve~~1J0:~r Xd~~~:~!~ ~:~~:::~er~o~~i~~c~~~~~~~~.? 'i~~;o~~i Princes may be fwayed hy intere!l: to fend falfe Declarations to Rebels in Arms , to reduce them to Obedience : But what can the mofl High gain by our Submillion or lofe by our ?c~~i~t"fc~(~~:J':te~;,~t ~ib~~hf~~d'~~e~bf~;~;~l:r~:a~~eb~.op~~fa~~n:.11 ~b~~i~~st~~ his fevere Juflice : There is no occafion that he Jhould intend by the gracious Offer of Pardon, to aggravate the Sin and Sentence of thofe who refufe it. Whofoever. with Heart breaking Sorrow, and unfeigned Hatred of his Sins, feeks for Pardon by the Mediator, he fl1all find his Experience of fparing Mercy equal to the highefl: Expreilions of it in Scripture, and exceeding all his Thoughts. the4D~~i~fc~r~~b~~~~ ?,~~~~~e~~YG~t~~~n;h:ret:~a~~1:ni~[;~~;:e~e~~b~;ve~1;h~~~ 345 y et there is a Diffcrenc~ in. their external Operation~. S. John ~cclares, God is LO'Ve; that fignifics his commumcauvc Go~dnefs , .the Exerc1fe whereo~ IS J?~re free and _Pleafing to him than the ACts of revengmg Jufl1ce. He dves not ajjl.tEI wdlmgly the Cht!dren Lam. j; of Men. His mercy ., in givin~ and forgiving flows as Water from a Fountain: Ads of Jullice are forc'd from him ( hke Wine from the Grapes) by the preiling Weight of our Sins. In the firfl: Day o( Judgment a Saviour was ptomifed before the Cmfc was threatned. Notwithfl:anding fmful Men break his Laws, and trample on them before his Face; they refift, andgrieve, and quench his Spirit: Yet he delays the Execution of ~'d~~~n:1,:;'~~~~ ~~;tt:~~~:UZ/~~dn~:m :~f:r:::~~e~f 11I}~;~~~/~f~~ef!Si~~: Humane Juflice may fuffer a guilty Perfon to efcape Punifhmenr for want of clear Evidenc.c, but this cafe is n.ot incid~nt to tl1e Jufiice o~ Heaven. God is Lfght with refpect to lus Purity and Ommfcience. His fiery Eye p1erces through the rh.ickefl: Darknefs wherein Sins arc · committed, and all the Arts of Concea lment ufed to cover them. He fees all the Sins of Men with the Eye of a Judge; All things are naked and open 6efore ~:illEo'~fc~:'~vh:~~s~~ ~~:c:0 i~0~rd;;1~~ef~d~~~f:.id ,2 .G~4i~~;~~efr~;; ~v~~~:d1;{p~~~ ~~ J~~i:~:e ,~:~~et~ear;uffr~e~~rr!e~t ru;;~~eib/~~~~:i':n~ii~~~~; ~~a7n~~h~~e~c}~~ rhe Power of a prince is not in himfelf, bur in thofe who are his Subjeds. Thus David was con11rained to fpare Joa6, after rhe Murder of A6ner, becaufe of his Interefl in rhe Army; lhe Sons of Zerviah were too hardfor him, he fear'd their rebellious Refifl:ance, ·;. Bur the Power of God is inherent in himfelf, and depends upon no Creatures : 0 Lord, be exalted in thine own Power. He fears none, and is to be fcar'd by all. With one Stroke of Omnipotency he can defl:roy all his Enemies for ever. He can with more Eafe fubdue the moll: ilubborn Rebels, than we can breath. His Strength is equal to his Aulhority, borb are truly infinite.. l· The Guilty are fpared fometimes from the vicious Partiality of Princes to their Favourites, or a wretched Neglect of Jut1ice : But the high and holy King is without refpeCl of Perfons: He hates Sin with a perfed Hatred, and is angry with the Wicked every day. The Scripture gives an Account why.Execut!OntSrcfp!tcd: lheLord isnotf/ack, (as fome Men count Slacknefs) 6ut islong-fuffer- ~fe ~ar~ ~a;1gr;;:ou~:~~~~ ;:::e:~fno(~dofJ;Y';~ ;h:i:'s;1;;~i~~~td come to Repentance. 1: It appears that God is ready to forgi ve, in that upon the firil Suit of humble and penitent Believers he prefently pardons :hem. I f we confider how long Men continue •n a Courfe ofvoluptuous or profitable Sms, how many Repulfes ro the Offers of Mercy they are gmlty of, it migh t juflily ~e expeCted, that God Jhould with Difdain rejeCt r;1e1r Pctmon.s, or not be intreared without a long Exercife of' Repentance, and connnued, fubmtiftve. and earnefl: Solicit~tions for his Mercy. But the King of Heaven keeps no. State, the Throne of Grace !S always open and accctliblc to humble Penitents: :~~nt~}"v~~1f~~~t~ii;~~p:~~,l~~~~ ~;~,:~,;~~~~:~ ~~~~~~r~~ e;,;;pe~::1y,·~~~ ,;~~1~01~; Z z 2 melting
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