SPIRÍTUAL PEACE AND COMFORT. 251 . apprehension of God's goodness arid merciful nature, would cause a fixed apprehension of the prohability of your happiness, as long as you are willing to be happy in God's way. For reason will tell you, that he 'who is love itself, and whose goodness is equal to his almightiness,and who hath sworn, that he hath no pleasure in the death of a sinner, but rather that he repent and live,will not de- stroy a poor soul that lieth in submission at his feet, and is so, far from resolved rebellion against him, that he grieveth that it is no better, and can please him no more.' 10. However.;these right apprehensionsof God would overcome those terrorswhich are raised onlyby false apprehensions of him. Anddoubtless a very great part of men's causeless troubles are raised from such misapprehensions of God. For Satan knows, that if he can bring,you to think of God as a cruel tyrant and blood- thirsty man-hater, then he can drive you from him in terror, and turn all your love and cheerful obedience into hatred and slavish fear. I say therefore again, do not only get, but also fix deep in your understanding, the highest thoughts ofGod's natural goodness and graciousness that you possibly can raise. For when they are at the highest, they come short ten thousand fold. Object. ' But God's goodness lieth not in mercy to men, as I have read in great divines ; he may perfectly good, though he should forever torment the most innocent créatures.' Answ. These are ignorant,'presumptuous intrusions into that which is,unsearchable. Where doth Scripture say as you say ? Judge ofGod as he revealeth himself, or you will but delude your- self, and abuse him. All his works represent him merciful; for " his mercy is over all his works," and legible in them all. His word saith, " He is good, and loth. good ; ".Psalm .cxix. 6S. cxlv. 9. How himself doth preclaim his own name, (Exod. xxxiv. 6. 7,) I told you before. The most merciful men are his liveliest image ; and therefore he plants mercy in them in their conversion, as a principal part of their new nature. And commands of merci- fulness are a great part of his law ; andhebids us "be merciful, as our heavenlyFather is mercìfbl ;" Luke vi. 36. Now;if this were none of his nature,'how could he be the pattern of our new nature herein? , And if he were not infinitely merciful himself, how could We be required to be mercifulas he is ? Who dare say, ' Iam more merciful than God?' Object. 'But Godis just as well as merciful; and for all his merciful nature, he' will damn most of the world forever in hell.' , Anne. 1. But James saith, ",Mercy rejoiceth against judg- ment ; " James ii. 13. 2. God is necessarily the governor of the world, (while there is a world,) and therefore must govern it in justice, and so must not suffer his mercy to be per,petually abused
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