Comfort to thole that are of merciful fpirits. 355 To make Application of this Point. Firf}, Here is abundance of comfort to thofe that afe of 1i pp licatiasr, met cifull fl:irits, who ever you arc that are thus mercitul, where ever you are, (though Ï feare there are but few, like the gleanings after the vintage, they hand but here and there even in great aflemblies.) Hearken unto your comfort, bath the Lord drawn forth your hearts to melt' at the ío: rows of the Saints abroad, though you have had ri.enty at home, yet you have been in bonds with them, and your comforts have not seen fo fweet to you as otherwife they wour'have been, be- caufe the Church and people of God have been in Inch f}raits, you have been in forrow, though-you have en.oved peace and plenty, this bath taken away the fweetneis of your Mercies, know, if it be thus, take your comforts Firl} , Thou art eminent in that which is Gods eminency, and this is a great excellency, and this is the bell fervice thou cant} doe ; thou cana not do a peice of fervice more accep- table to God then this thing is. Thou compiainef} thou cant} nor pray, thou art difquieted in thy fpirits, for thy deadneffe and dulneffe and indifpof .dneíle of heart, but bar( thou a mer- éiful( heart; know that this is moll acceptable to God, Mich: 6.4, S. where withall (hall I come before the Lord, and bow my Pelf before the high God, fhalll come before him with burnt offe- rings, with calves of a year old,will the Lord be plea fed with thou- fands of rams, or with ten thou fandc of rivers of ayle, fee what large proffers they made there to God, avall we come with thofe ? Shall Igive my frfp born for my tranfgrefon, the fruit of my body for the Tn of my foul ? No, faith ,od, no-re of chefe, I regard them not, I require them not, Only to do uflice, and to love mercy. Here withall maye(} thou come b f e =o with boldneff , it may be thou ca'nfi nor bring river, o' o- le, thou cant} not Hog Rich enlargements, filch exp eflìon , si ch fine plac'd words, yet cans thou abring it heart lovin mercy, hifi thou but a merciftill heart, thou hall 'that which God de- lights in. i z Secondly,
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