Chap. 33. An Expofition upon the Book of j o E. Verf.2q.. 395 occafions of (hewing mercy,'tis noburden to him to doe us good; mercy proceeds from his nature, and therefore he delighteth in mercy (Mic: 7. i8.) yea, to be n'iercifull is his nature, and thereforehe cannot but delight in it. Fifthly, gracioufnefs being thevery nature of God, implyeth thathe will do us good liberal- ly, and conflantly, or that (as the Apohle fames fpeaks _) he giveth liberally, and upbraideth not ; he doth not upbraid us with our, poverty, who receive, nor doth he upbraid us with the riches of the gifts which himfelf befloweth ; And becaufe they flow from his nature,thereforehe loth not in the leaf+ emp- ty himfelf, how much foever hefills the creature with his gifts or goodnefs. Some men (upon the matter) evenexhaufi andundoe themfelves by liberallityuntoothers ; and theywho give mo(t,or have molt togive, cannot alwayes give. It is Paid in this Book, (Chap. 37. t t.,) By watering, he wearieth the thickcloud that is, God commandeth the cloud to give raine fo long, that is hath not a drop more to give , but is quite (pent. Springs or fountaines arenever weariedor fpent wi,h watering,becaufe their waters come as freely and as fall as they goe ; God is aneverlaft- ing fpring of grace and goodnefs ; He is not wearyed, nor emptyedbywhat he giveth out to, or doth for the creature,, be- caufe all flowed' from his naturali gracioufnef e as from a foun- taine. Then he is gracious. I would urge the fecund reference of that word ( then ) a little further ; It was (hewed before, that it might refer, Firfl, to the extreamity of the lick man, Secondly, to the Fick mans humiliation, or the right difpofure of his fpi- rit to receive renewed acts of grace, and favour from the Lord. Hence obferve , Secondly. God ufirallydijirenfeth orgiveth out ails ofgrace whenwe repent si agVaus ire and tarn:from fin, whenwe believe and lay holdupon the pro- monitis disco ?rife ; Then he is gracio a. nuncij paruerit ac proinderr "- It is faid (Ifa: 3o; i 8. ) Therefore will the Lord wait that hepuerit,tum &c. may begricious, The Lord bath alwayes a gracious difpofition, Fife a gracious nature ; he alwayesbath a fiore and a flocke, á rich flocke and flore of mercy by hire ; hut he doth not alwayes give it forth ; no, hewaitr to begracious, that is, he waits till we are in E e e a
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