Evangelical Repentance. 225 Bredpence, and the other fifty : And when they bad nothing to pay, he fraokly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of themwill love hirit moll ? Simon anfwered andfaid, I fuppoft tbat he to whom be forgave moil-. And hefaidunto him, thou haft righty *aged. 113ofe that he forgives molt un.o, will love moll. je fits thrift loves to be greatly honored, and loved, and therefore he is willing to lave the greateit 'inners. Eat now,the greateit finners are moil oppofit un:o what is good, theydon't leek after what is good : Surely thereTore, it jefus (Thrift would Cave fnmers,and the greateil finners of neceffity the Kingdom of Heaven, and of Grace, malt ap- p roach.untous, before we draw neer to it. But you will fay, The Scripture feems to be contrary unto this DoEtrine : For hash not the Scripture faid, Turn unto the Lord, and he will turn untoyou ? Vraw neer to God and he will draw neer toyou ? How is this therfore true,That the kingdom ofgrace, mercy, and free-remiilion, does firft draw neer untous, before we draw neer unto it ? 't ea, Hathnet our Savior thrill laid I came not to call the righteous, but fanners to repentance? That is, fuck as are fenfible of their fins : Surely therefore, a man mull be fen- fible ofhis fins, muff be fenfible firti, before the kingdome of Heaven, ofGrace, Mercy,andFree-remiflion be brought neer unto him. For Anfwer, The Scripture is cleerlywithus, The A- poftle John fpeaksout expreily, We love him, becaufe he loved ur firfi. And faies our Savior, Youhave not chofenme, but I have chofenyou : I have chofen you, you have not chofen me. And whereas 'tis faid, That we fhould turn to God, and he will turn to of : And draw neer to God, and he will draw neere to ZS!. That is,- He evil draw neer unto you again, hewill turn more unto you ; not as if we fhould begin to turn to .him, and first drawneer to him, before he does &ft draw neer to us at all : But, draw neer to him, and he will draw neer toJose: And turn to him, and he will turn to yen : That is, he L 1 2 will Ob;ea. Zecb.I.3 am.4.8 Match. 9 , 4nfro 7.0. 4 s- yoh.15. 16.
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