Downame - Houston-Packer Collection BX5133 .D76 C551 1608 v.1

CamfartablePreferrsatluesagarffdeierat on. 4; I cfieeable tohisnature,that is, that hemay againe Phew vnto vs the gloriousbeames ofhislouing countenance inmore ful brightnes,and bring vs from death to life ; fromafieion to ioy, from thegatesofhel,to the kingdom ofheauen. Accc r- ding to that, I.Sam.2.6. theLord killeth,andmakcth aliue, he bringethdowne vnto hell, and bringcth vp againc. As therefore when we fee carpenters pulling downe a ruinous building, ourminds donot refi there, becaufe we know that this they doe, is not their proper worke,but we go further in our cogitation, thinking of a new houle which they will in the place ofthe old, for as much as wee know that it innot their proper worke to race do«'ne, but to build, or to race downe,that theymaybuild : fo when wee fee theLord angry,and inflidiing corre&ions,let vs not refi here,but: with the like forefight oftnind, let vsconfider that hedoththefe his flrange and improper works, that afterwards he maydoe thofe which are proper and natural!, thatis,that he afilicóeth that he maybring themore true comfort,thathe bringethvs to thegates ofhell,to- the end he may raifc vsvp tobe parta- kers ofthe ¡oies ofheauen. But let vs confider offome more teflimonies ofGods infinite mercies. The Prophet Dauid likewife faithPfalm.103.8. That theLordisfill ófcompa onz Pfalm. to ;.8. andmercie,flow toanger,ànd-ò fgreat ki sdneffe. Arid Pfal.8 6.5; and86.;, ThetLord t tgòodandmercrfull,andofgreat kindneff vnto all themi'that callvpon thee. So the Prophet Ioel 2.13.. tefiifieth Iocl2.13, ofthe Lord, that he isgratious andmerci full,flow toanger, and ofgreatkindneffe. And theApòfile faith,that he is rich inmer. Ephef z.4, cy, Ephef..2.4. -and2. Cor.I.3. bee thefather ofz.Còr. t.3.. mercies,and Godofallconfort. Seeing then, mercie is oneofGodsattributes, therefore §.S0.4. it is alto of his effence and being:for there are not inGods Thatóod is d& moll perfedi nature, any qualities or accidents; but what- lighted ìn ex. foeuer is inGod, is God, fothat God is mercie it felfe; and mere bin confequently, to fhew and exercife hismercie, is to (hew andexercife his ovinenature. Nowwee know that natural! aciions arenot troublefon.m , nor irkforne; neither is the fui troubled with gluing light, nor thefire with giving h_ eate, nor thetree' with¡ yeelding fràite no the beaffWith nou> rifhing,.'

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