On LuKE. XIV. 23. The Gofpel is made up of Arguments and Endearments, of Commands and c· ' ' fionate Calls, of ineau raging Invitations, and the.moft conll:rainin&, niotives, t.h.,t, S:_- fulmen would apply rhemfetves to our BlefTed SaviOur, and not. penfh. for eve~ I? tlWtl' ;~~~u!~ry~~~;~a ag~o;h~e~~~o2~d;er;L~~;a~~n~e:.b~g.~:~ ~~~s J~:i;t~s~J,~.s~::tjJ hfeech you by us, '"e pray you in Chrif/'s j/ead, le reconciled to God. From hence the Duty of Evangelical Mtniflers is clear and confequent, that wtth zealous Affetbohs and perlevering Diligence they fl1ould endeavour to bring Souls to partake of the Grace of the' Gofpel. An ObjeCtion may be ratf'ed. If God be pleated with the Salvation of finful Men, why are not all raved' fo r nOthing is the Ol<ieCt of his Will, but is within the compafs of his Power. The Objection is fpecious, and may furprize at firfl, but duly confidered , may roccive a fufficient An(\ver. r. 'Tis a leadmg Rule, that when Doctrines are clearly revealed in the Scripture, we mufl yield our AOenr, tho' we cannot refolve all the Di/licultics that are railed again{\ them. 'Tis unreafonable to deny what is evident, becaufe we cannot unfold what is obfcure. There is no Doctrine more frequently and emphatically a{ferrcd in the Divine Writings, than that the Repentance of-a Sinner, and his acceptance of Pardon and Life is very pleafing to God, He a{fures us in the mofl Cacred and folemn manner of this: ....,; As I li·ve, faith the Lord, I ha-ve no pleafure in the Deatb of the Wicked, but that the Ezek. B · xr ; Wicked turn from bis way, and live: He is willing they fhould be faved, and they 2.rC wilfu l to be damned. With what tender and me lting Companions does he argue with ~~:~';: t~Zo;f/.~ ~;~~c~v~:tf:rn:fe~;~? as if they were upon the brink of Hell, and 2. We mufl diflinguifi1 between his decreeing Will, and his approving Will : whatever God decrees to effect, !hall be infallibly accomplifi1'd; but many things that he approves, are left undone. His Commands are his Will, the Rule of our Duty, but not of his Purpofe what he wi ll do, The Scripture mentions the Word ofGod's Power, and the Word of his Holinefi. The Word of his Power effects all things according to his Will: but the Word of his Holinefs, his Laws declar'd to reg\llate our Lives, are often oppos'd, and without Efficacy. 3. The Wifdom of God directs all the Operations of his Attributes; that orders the Di!penfations of Mercy, and the lnfltctions of )uflice. When the Apoille had confidered the aflonifi1ing Oeconomy of Providence with refpect to the 1ews and Gentiles, he breaks forth, 0 the Depth of the Riclm hoth of the Wifdom and Knowledg ofGod! How tt11' Rom. " ·ll· fearcbahle are /m 1udgments, and his.Ways paj/ fnding eut ! That fo great a part of the World live in Darknefs, and die in Darknefs, and go to their Fathers where they lhall never fee Light, and the Day.fpring from on high vifits others Nation•, is according ro the Counfel of his Will. 4· God does afford aOilling Grace to Sinners, which if they improved, he would not defert them. The Gofpel is tbe Minij/ration of the Spirit, to illuminate, excite and perfwade Sinners not to forfake their own Mercy. He jlrh;eJ with them, he woes and waits to be gracious, till by thei r obflinate Refiflance they quench his holy Motions. 'Tis true, he difpenfes Grace in different degrees , for he is the Mafler of his own Favours: but tho' effeCtual converting Grace is not bellowed upon all , yet there is common Grace, that has a tendency to Converfion , which if humbly and thankfu lly improved, fuch is the mofl free and excellent Goodnefs of God, men would receive fur ther Supplies. llut they are carelefs and oppofite to his gracious Operations , therefore the Spirit is mofi righreoufiy withdrawn from them. He that in Luxury has wafled his Eflate, 'tis jufl he dies in Poverty. Befides this, 't is very confiderable , that Mep !hall be condemned at the lafl Day not for mere Impotence, but obflinate Oppofition : they loved Darknefs John 3. r9 , rather tban Ligbt, :becauje their Deeds are e'Vil: not for the want of that Grace they did not receive, but for1 the nt;-glect to improve that Grace they had received, and re. jetting what was offer; (!:' Thef/otbfui Servant rvas condemn' d for hiding his Jingle Talent Mat. , 1 , zn a Napkin, 11ot becaufe he)Hrd. no~ft-ve T"alents. Secondly, 'Tis the great Defign·of. God to glorify his Son . When he brought his Firfl.begotten jnto the' World, the Command was, Let all th< Angels ofGod rvor{hip bim, P.ob. r, God baJ gi·ven ~~!':!.a Nmpe abO'Ve every Name, that at th: Name of ( Jefus J M.Jery Knee fbould bow, of tl~mgs in F/ea'Uen, -and Earth, and under the Eartb; andevery Tongue jhould confefs that ]efus,Chrij/ is Lord, to the Glory of God the Father. Thofe ·who crofs his SuprcmeW1fdotb and Soveraign Wi ll , flrall by a conflrain'd SubmiOion acknowledge the higlrDi 'gniry of his Son, , , · The great Command of the Gofpel is, rh~ :/~"~~ouldl~e/ieue o11the Namcof r] ohn l· , 1•
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