through Naturall 167 than, and hereby he incourages his Armourbearer. So, when a man can fay thus : it may be the Lord will fhowMercy tome in fuch a work , or in fuch a bufineffe ; there is no re- ftraint with him ; it caufes the Soule to rely on God. Now this Latrine , it holds forth a may be to you , a may be of Mercy to you ; though you have not an Afiurance that this mercy that hath the fentenceof death upon it , will certain- ly rife againe yet notwithflanding , feeing it is Gods way, this is Gods way with the Childrenof Abraham when he intends to give a fpeciall Mercy , he does put a fentence of death upon it. This holds forth a may be unto you , a may be of Mercy this Doctrine holdsforth untoyou. Why therefore ( my beloved) fhould we not relie upon God , when the fentence of death is put upon the meanes , upon all the meanes that does lead unto the Mercy that you moll: de- fire ? But you will fay unto me ; Is there no way , no meanes to fpy out Gods meaning in this particular? Oh that I did but know, whether this Mercy that hath the fen- tence of death upon it, (hall rife again : how [hail one know that ? are there no meanes to know it ? whether a Mercy (hall rife againe , when the, fentence of death is up- on it ? I (hall fpcake but two things unto that,, briefly. A Chriftian may have fome perfwafionof the ReforreEfion ofhis Mercy when the fentenceofdeath is put upon it; by the frequent vifitings of the promife ; marke , when God in- tends any fpeciall Mercy to hispeople , he gives out a pro- mite; then comes the fenteno: of death : but if he in- tends to fulfill the promife; he does caufe the promife fre- quently to via the Soule , even when the fentenceof death is upon the bufineffe ; often to knock at the doore of the Soule. When there is Good-will between two Young people kept frommarrying by their Parents and the Young man often is at the houfe ; ye fay , furely, , if the Parents were but dead , there would be a marriage quickly , by the fre- quent vilitings. So now , when the promife does frequent- I Y ly Anfw. I.
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