458 CorßPortablepreferuatittesa«ainfirdeleration §4e3.4. Lafllie, thole who are heauie laden with the burthen of Thelaft aYp. their finnes, may gather vnto themfelues affurance of the menttal ¿eta forgiueneffe ofthem, by the confideration ofGods mercic from the ex- extended vnto other repentant finners; for there was newer perienceof P Gads rnercie any from the beginning ofthe world to this day, were their in patdnning finnes neuer fo hainous or innumerable,who haue not been others, andffç receiued to mercy,andpardoned ofour gratiousGod,when- c whole ara foeuer they did vnfainedlie turne vino him. And this may bons, appeare whether weeconfider whole cities or nations,or elfe particular men. Ofthe firíl weehaue a notable example in the Ifraelites which liued in the time of the Iudges, who though they did many times negligentlie forget the great mercies, and ineflimable benefites ofGod (hewed to their forefathers, of which alto themfelues had been partakers, though they forfooke the Lord not once or twicebut very often, euen then whenhemoil bound them vino him with multiplying vpon them the benefits of peace and plentie, and though they let the raines loofe vnto all wickedneffe, yea (which was moll abominable and odious in the fight ofGod,)though theyworfhipped and ferued `.8aaland Afte roth and other idols ofthe curled nations, for which horri- ble idolatrie, God had call out thenations before them;yet whenfoeuer theyturnedvino the Lord, hee pardoned their finnes,receiuing them intohis former loue andfauour, and deliuered themout ofthe hands ofall their enemies. The example So likewife in the timeoftheProphet Efay,to what a no- ofncmt/raehtes torious height ofwickedneffe were the fainepeoplegrowne, in the time of as the Lordbyhis Prophet doth decipher and defcribe them the Prophet Y P P Fray, in the firfl chapterofthatprophecie ?In the2.verfehe calleth E[ay r.s.to 16. hearten and earth to witneffe their horrible rebellion; in the 3.verfe hee fheweth that their vnthankfulnefl'e for all his mercies, far exceeded the vngratitudeofbruitebeafls; in the 4. verle hee exclaimeth out againfl them,calling themafin- fullnation, apeople ladenwith intguitie, a feedofthe wicked, cor- rupt children,irhohad forfaken theLord, and prouokedtheholae one ofIfrael toanger. In the 5.and 6. verfes he fheweth their hardneffe ofheart and ob(linacie in their rebellion, which wasfo great, that though theLord fent afluiClions andcha flifernents
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