Objet! of Mercy. way of juflice God Both will that wicked men should peri(h in their fin, that is, when in a way and courfe' of juflice they come to be dealt with, but otherwise, except it be in a way and courfe of juflice that they may be deftlt with, we íhoul i have piny upon wicked men when the hand of God is upon them in bringing mifery : It's true, there is a time coming, that the Saints ihall be io fwallowed up with God, with love to God, as they fhallpitty wicked men no more,yea!hall have no kind of compatlion towards them hereafter, when as it iha!l be revealed fully that they are reprobates, and that this is the way to honour himfelf eternally, to with draw all mercy from them, then the Saints thal not pitty them, but in the mean time, here in this world we are to pitty them, becaufe though they be now wicked,we do not know but that they may belong to God, and be made veffels of mercy, fuch a wicked blafphe- mer, and wicked uncleane perfon, the man monflruous wretch that is, who knower but that God may fet him a part to be a veffel of mercy to the glory of his Free-grace, and therefore becaufe you know not yet the contrary,mercy fhould work to- wards him, to pitty his foule and body. Thirdly, The ner thing is, that as we ílhotíld be merciful! to all that are in mifery, fo efpecially to them in refpeei of their fouls : There's many men and women have pittifull hearts to others, when they fee them poor, naked, and ready to flarve then they pitty them, but you fhall have fuch pittifull men and women to have no compaffion towards their foules, but where mercy is true, it is towards the foule in the firll place,and then towards their bodyes. Fourthly, Further for the objea ofmercy, the leffe guilt there is upon any, the more he is to be pittyed in his misery, as thus, when any one conies into mifer. y m,erly by the hand of God, And not by their own wicke.dneffe; then there's much mercy to be fhown : I confeffe though men fl oidd be brought into mifery by their wickednefl'e yet; Hill, ezceï^t -it be in a way and courfe of legali proceeding,in a courfe of juflice,they muff not
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