Downame - BV209_D69_G6_1640_v1

The reafon of "thefifth petition expounded.t laid upon us by the Lord, and are therefore to bear it patiently,& not Peek to wreak our felves upon our brother, who is but the instrument or rod by whom the Lord doth corral us; yet we are in this as in all other afióions to ufe fuck means as the Lord doth offer unto us of deliverance out of the fame, and not be like wayward children,which having taken a fall will not rife. The means which God hath appoint- ed in this behalf is the publick authoritie of the ma- gift rate, who is the minifler of God for the goodofthem that do well : as for the refi, he beareth not thelivordfor nought, but is the minifter of God tix11,,Aç el s óa))/, an a_ venger unto wrath unto thofe that do evil, Rom. t 3.4, ties. mss, fignifieth not equalitie. For as the heavens What is are higher then the earth, fo doth his mercy excell the Taut greateft love amongft men: as the love of the father, Matth. 7. z s. and of the mother, Ifai. 49. i S . And by how much his love is greater, by fo much he is the flower to wrath or revenge, Hof. r 1.9. /will not exerci f my fierce wrath in def roying Ephraim: for I am God and not man. Had our Saviour been but a man, as his Apofiles were but men, although good men, he would perhaps have been as ready to call down fire from heaven upon the Samaritanes as they, Luke 9.5 4. Had the Lord,who was offended, been no more mercifull towards Niniveh then the Prophet Jonah, whom they had not offended, Ni- niveh had been deffroyed , Jonah 4. 1. Therefore Not equati equality is not here to be underflood, but likeneffe. ty but like - For although we cannot be equall with the Lord, neffe here to be unaer yet we muff be like him. And as it is Matth. 5.48.400a> Be