SERMONS of the Forgivenejs of Sr Ns. appcafing God by humble and mournfulSubmillion, and ardent Addreffes for Mercv we repeated rhc Provocations of his D1fplcaiure every Day. How long did he wirb u~~vea ~ied Patience wait tq -be gracious ? If a~rer ten thoufand Denials of accepting his Mercy he had forfakcn us, we had been as mtfcrablc as we ar~ finful. But nonvirhfianding ou; being inAc~ible to the itm~mer~blc CaUsof his Word, 1~penctrabl~ to the pure Motion of !l~~·~h~~o'~~~/1~~~~~;: o~fF1~~r ~t~1:tltco~f~~n~[~r~1~~~/~~rfrl1 s~~~~~~r}o~~a~c~~~;rS'i~~~ ~ '~hen we were prerared for Wrath, and avcrfC and mtcdy indifpofed for the receiving lus ~ercy, then Ius Grace, as free as ~mnipotcnr, gave us Rcpen~ancc unto life, and quahficd us for Pardon, and befl:owed 1t upon us. The Extcnuatwn of our Sins is HI · confifient ~ith the Exaltation of Grace: but tl~c more humble we arc in the deep Schfc of our Gmlt, the more thankful for rhe Divme Clemency. That God was pleafed to croiVn us IVith L(J'l)ing-kindnefs and Mercy, when a killing Gh~rgc of mnumetable Offence~ was lcvell'd againlt us, 0 Goodnefs, truly Divine a1id Infihite, and fhould accordi1igly affect us with Admiration! odty. Pardoning Mercy di!l:inguifhes between Sinners of equal Guilt, and often fares thofe of greater Guilt when others d1e eternally: This Compararive heightens God's Love and our Thankfulnefs. How many arc furpriz'd and cut off in a Courfe of Sin? how many die without_ Repentance, a~d arc under a notorious ~cceility of pcrilhing ~ yet we that were as bad or worfe, neither melted and made phablc by his Goodncfs nor better'd by his Judgments, he fpared, and by his Grace cleanfed and changed us: that we might partake of Mercy. In this Difpenf.1rion the Q!C!l:ion of the Apofrle inay be pur in its full Force, Wbo made tbee to differ? Nothing within us, nothing withour us, difiinguilh'd us .from thofc that pcrifh; rheie \Vcre rlie fJme pollUted Princip\Cs in our Hcatts, and the iame rebellious Sins in our Lives : only rhe Mercy of God du.t has n0 moving Caufc bur it felf, made the DiflCrcnce. Let the Compari10n be contracted between us and our Affociates in Sin, and as the Sun-beams concentcr'd in a Burning. glafS, it will more inAameour thankful Affections.' How many that were joined in the commilfionof focialSins, of Intemperance, Uncleanncfs, Unrightcoufi1efs, andthclikc, are dead, and without rhe Refcrve of pardoning Mercy, and fome were refcued from Damnation, as due to them as ro the refr. At rhe tail: Day, when there fhall be an erer. la!l:ing Separation between thofe at the right Hand, and rhofe at rhe left Hand of rhe Judge of the World, we !hall under!l:and the Riches of Grace that di!l:inguilh between us and the Partners of our Guilt: as by fceing us jufiified and received into Glory, their fad Exclufion will be aggravated to Extremity ; fo by feeing them doom'd to DefiruClion for ever, the faving-Grace of God ro us will be more glorious. ( 4.) The Confequents of Pardon in the · prefent Life dcferve our mo!l: affectionate Thankfulnefs. ' · The Pardon of Sins gives us a regular Title to all temporal Blcilings, and the tru· cfl: Sweerncfs in their Fruition. God is the univcrfal and abfolute Proprietary of all things in this World, being made by his creating Power, and continued by his preferva· tive Power. By our rebellious Sins we were under a jufl Deprivation of them. Now the Pardon of Sin takes off the deadly Forfeiture, and re!l:ores the Ufe and Benefit of temporal Blcilings ro us. 'Tis true, God by his general Bounty affords Supplies to his Enemies: lbe Sun rifes with his cheerful Light, and the Rain fa !Is upon the Juji and Un· jufl; and wicked Men have a civil right to their Polfetlions: but they are nottheGi~sof his fpecial Love to them. The Prodigal was lir!l: pardon'd, and then entertain' cl wJth a Fea!l:. The Love of God gives a ehearful Tincture to all his Benefits. 'Tis emphatically faid, God, e-uen our own God, Jhallblefs us. As he is plca!cd ro value and acceptthemean· c!l: Service that is mix'd with our Affections ro him : A Cup of cold Water that comes from the Spring of Love, !hall have its Reward: So his Love raifes the Price of every Bleiling. The Pfalmi!l: having fer forth the Riches, and Profpc.riry, and Peace of a Kmg· dom, breaks forth, Happy is tht: People that are in foch a cafe. But he prefenrly revokes it, and afcends with aGradation of Light and Force; Ten, happy ir tbat ~eople JVbofo God is the Lord; who are in a State of Divine Favour. Temporal Bleffings, 1f rhey are nor rhe Gifts of God reconciled to us in rhe Redeemer, are Snares rhat alienate the Hearts of Men from God, and foment rheir Lu!l:s, and prepare rhem for final De!l:ruction. The rich Man ha·d his good things here; nnd was tormented after h1s fenfual Fruiuons. A rebell ious Sinner is fpared for a time, and punifhed for ever. The King of Sodom v.~a s tefcued from Captivity by Abr•ham, and referved fer Defuuction by a Shower of F~te and Brim!l:one. 2 . The
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