Of Sufficient and Efec ual Grace. B. i. Doyou know it now, and thall not they know it then? 2. God telleth us the contrary, That all hidden thingsJhall be brought to light, and that God will ju(tifie hisown proceedings, by proving that mens deftru&ion is ofthemfelves, that every mouth may beflopped, and all the World be guilty before God : And he calleth it his Righteoufnefs in judg- ing, togive to every man according to his Works: and that mens Con- fciences (hall then excufe them or accufe them, when God (hall fudge the florets of theirhearts, (and not whenhe (halltorment them, by deceiving them,) Rom. 2. 2 Theff. s. 6, 7, 8, 9, to. Matth. 25. &7. 23, 24.2 Tim. 4.8,9. Rom. 14.Io. Gen. 18.24,25. fuef.13, Do youbelieve that none but the Ele& have now any real mercy , befides a delay oftheir future mifery , and hopes ofits abatement. C. " Ido : For all things are to bejudged of by theend : And that . is " really nomercy, which is not intended to a mans happinefs, but his mi- "fery. As AfiFlions are no evils to the Eleïl, becaufe they are intendedand "work together for theirgood. B. Is the offer of Chrift andLife nomercy ? Is all Gods patience and forbearance, as a means to lead them to repentance, no mercy? Is all the teaching, perfwading , intreating condefcenfion of Chrift, no mercy ? See what error here you run into , and how contrary to Scrip- ture, and tonature it felf? r. You contradiec Gods Word, which frequently calleth themmer- cies, Pfal.145. 9. 6106. 7. 45. Weh. 9.19, 27, 28, P. jon. 4. 2. Rom. 2.4. Matto. 18. 33. Ifa. 63.9. Ezek 16. 2. Youdeny the chiefe(tpart ofmensduty ; eventoaccept ofmercy, to improve mercy, to be thankful for mercy, tobe led by Gods good- nefs to Repentance, to ufe merciesas GodsTalents tohis Glory, &c. If you fay, They know not but they aremercies ; you feign God to bindmen toduty, but bydeceit : It is as mercies, and notas that which for ought they know may be mercies , that they are to be valued, ufed, &c. 3. Youexcufe men from the greateft aggravation of their fin : even finning againft Mercies: How can they fin againft them that have none. 4. You feignGods Juftice tobe ftrangely glorified, by damningmen inHell for ever, for finning againft mercy, who never had any to fin againft. 5. You will make Confciencejuffifie theWicked, and condemnGods Judgments in Hell , inftead of juftifying God , and accufing them- felves. 6. You muff accordingly conclude that you never (hewed mercy to Child, Neighbour, or any but the Ele&your felt, ( becaufe it was all to end inmifery) or elfe that you were to them more merciful than God. 7. Whenman is made in Gods Image, and we mutt be holy and mer- ciful as ourheavenly Father is, you fet all men fuch a patternofmercy and juftice, as you would be loth your Prince or Parent fhould imi- tate. 8. You expofeChrift's moft compaffionate tears toreproach, when, Luke 19. he lookt onJerufalem and wept over sit, as having had a day of mercy; and when Matth. 23. he faith, How oft would I have ga- thered thee as a Hengathereth her Chickens under her wings, and ye would not:-- y 9. You 141
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