Cbap. VII. OJDEA T H. God, as if a forc'd and fo_rmal Confel!ion of their Sins could deceive his all-difce~ning !):ye ; and Defires merely termmated on themfelves were fuffic1ent to reconcile hiS offi:nded Maje~y ihere is nothing renders Men more unworthy of Mercy than continuance in Sin, upon prefumption of an eafie Pardon at !aft. This is the moft provoking abufe of his ~~f~~t~n;f~~~f=~~~f;e~!;~Fn~~t;~~ifr:,"'c:C"~ir~~r.e~(:~~~: ~fsm;s ~~r.f:~ hi~J~~~~ as to will it. And there is no Confideration lhould be fo melting and moving as his Clemency. We read of David, that he had more than once in his power Saul his unjuft and cruel Enemy, yet fpared him : · the effeB: of .it was that Saul was fofrened, and under fuch compunB:ion of Spirit, that he wept, confefs'd his Guilt, and perfecutedhim no more, overcome by that unexal"pled Love: If aMan jnd his Enemy, will he let hsm go? 1 Sa m. 26. 2r. Yet Men take advantage from the Goodnefs of God, fecurely to defpife his Laws. The habitual Sinner thinks that God is fo gracious, fuch a lover of Souls, fo eafie to be intreated, that upon his dying Prayer, Lord, remember me in thy Kint,dom, the anfwer will be, To dayfbaltthoubewith me in Paradife. This is the deceitful Principle upon which _Men ufuaUy build their Hopes, as AB:ions thatbeartbelmageof their Minds clearly manifeft. ~~~ ~~~a~~~~~ft~~~J~~~ul~h~yfoJ~:so~~=r~:~~~a~1~~.~o~~e~~~~~s;a;~£ t~b~~~a~hf,~ Mafter, prefuming on his Lenity, Goodnefs, Benignity; which Confiderations intolerably aggravated his Treafon, and confounded his Hopes. There is a dreadful threatning againft thofe who rejeCt the Invitations of Grace in their Profperity, and when the righteous Judg comestoSentenceandExecuuon, are earneft Suppliants for Mercy. Becaufel z;~; J!/'j n':.~i,; ;;;r;£"f'n{.i, ~=~v;f:t~~!~ :}~;1Rr;;,~(, a;;;;t.r.•;.;;t;,·:~·~o~rBc:l.~ mity, and mock whenyour Fe11r comes : When your Fear comes as a I)pjolatton, and yot~r De.. JlruClion., aWhirlwind, when Diflrefs and .tlnguifb come «ponyou, Then fba/1 they call upon 7-~,b":nJ 'dfJ::: ch1;j;'~t, 7e'fr~J1fh:kt:t'/r~:.~~:.fb•~ 11d~fef~l ~~fe~;;:%I !]{'~ffibj~ expreffion! when the finful Creature, forfaken of all Comforts below, addre!Tes to Heaven for Relief, and meets with Derilion and Fury, Scorn and Indignation. The foolifh Virgins, carelefs to prepare for the Bridegoom's coming, in vain at [aft difcover'd their want of Oil, in vain follicited the wife Virgins for · Supply, in vain knock'd at the door, crying, Lord, Lord, open to us, Mat. 25. Theanfwer was fevere and peremptory, I know you11ot; and they were for ever excluded from the Joys of Heaven. CHAP. VII. .'Tis >noft incongruous to delay our 11\_econciliation with God till the time of Sick.nefs·. 'Tis llery uncomfortable to delay it till our declining time. 7/Je 11anilJ of Mem preJuming to delay f!{epentance, becaufe fome halie been Conwrted in their /aft Hours. The Inftances of Juch are rare, and not to be draum into Example. InnumeraMe haw dyed_ in their Sms, deceilied with hopes of (j{epmting hereafter. Tbofe who ha11e delayed their rJI.!peutance, are not utterly deftitllte of hopes if they eameft~ (eek. God at !aft. 4· HOW incongruous is it todelaytbefolemn Work of Reconciliation with God till the time of Sicknefs. ThiS is an Aflair wherein our tranfcendent Intereftjs concerned, and fhould be performed in our moll: calm and fenfible Condition, when we are moft capable of refleB:ing upon our Ways, and making an exaB: trial of our felves in order to our returning to God by a holy change of our Lives. Now that the time of Sicknefs is not a convenient feafon for this Work, is fadly evident ; for fome Difeafes are ftupifying, . and all the powers of the Soul are benumm'd in a dull Captivity ; fo that the lick Man only perceives with his animal Faculties. Some Difeafes are tormenting, and caufe a great d1forder m the Soul, and diftraB: the Thou;trs from confidering its fpiritual State. When :~~e~~~~~h~ fur;~~~~~'Win~~d;~~ ~;~~es0 ~~~~:~~~e c;K~~"r~~r~~r:~~~pe~~nS~~~ Humours of the Body, and the Soul by Sympathy is fo difcompos'd that it cannot apply Mmm ~ 439
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