Evangelical Repentance. Patients. Phyfitians don't onlygo to thofe that are fedi- bie oftheir difeafe ; but ifaman be pail fence, his friends fend for the Phyfitian, and the Phyfitian goes : So does' Chrift here,Conaes untohis Patients when they are not fen, fable oftheir difeafe many times. Again, This lutes with that which goes before. Go (faie,s he, at the 13 verfe) and learn what that meaneth, Izvill have mercy, andnot facrifice. Sometimes this phrafe, this fentence is to be underftood concerning bodily mercy : But here'tis to be underttood ofmercy to the foul. Go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, ani not facrifice. Ye obje& to me, that I converfe with Publicans and fin- ners, not with thole that are righteous in their generation; go and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, andfl not fa criEce : 1 have more delight:in convertingwith poor rinners, than with thofe Jews that do offer facrifice. And again, Confider what fenfe would here be, if this fhould be the meaning ; I came not to call the righteous, but fanners : That is, I came to call thole that are fenfible of their fins, Then the meaning mutt be this : I came not to call the righteous, but men that are penitent, men that are fenfibleof their fins, and arepenitent. If by the cal- ling the finnerswe are to underftand thofe that are fenfible only; then thefenfe nauft be this; Icame not to call the righteous, but men that are penitent. No no, Chrift came to cal finners,poor finners ; although they were never yet fenfible oftheir tins, theLord.Jefus Chrift came tocall limners, which are fo indeed. This Doarine then ftands notwithfcandingthat Objeeti- on. But you will fay, The Prodigal kerns to come home unto his father, before. his father does come to him ; and to repent, before his father fhows mercy to him : and fo our repentancedoes prevent the Lords mercy, andnot. the Lords mercy prevent our repentance= For Aufwer, 'Tis good for us alwaies to attend unto Az the (cope of the Scripture; in Parables efpecially : The fcope
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