An Expojition of the Epiflle r--,J\.../\ ofhis power to us-ward. The mercies of God they are mercies to us-ward, fuch Ser.XXIl. as to none elfe, they are called therefore by way of di!\inetion the (ttrr mercus of ~ 'lJ,,vid- that is of 'Davtd and his feed, the fatrhful, fuch merctes as to no Creature elf~, fingular merci~s, fpecial mercies; others are common mercies, {as Divines ufe to call rhem,)but rhefe are merctes to us-ward,fure merctes of 'DavJd. So now when he fpeaks of power in other Scripmres, he putte,th a lingularity oT power that works in believers,a power equal to that wluchworks m all (tangs elfe. Look Phtt.3. 21. and Eph.3.2o.Accordmg to the power that works tn tts ,fo it is in the Ephejimts, Accordwg to the working where6y he is a61e to (u6due aJI thwgs to hrmfetj; fo it is in the 'Pht!lippialls. Take all the power _whereby he,. able to do all things elfe, and it is but equal to that whtch he works tn the Samts. My Brethren,the Grace of God in Chrif\,and the falvatton ofmanktnd by Chri!l was a new fiage God fet up to bring all his Attributes upon, to ad their pans to the uttermof\. He had Jhewed them all before, he had Jhewed power in creating the world, and a great power; but when he comoth to make the New Creation then cometh in the exceeding greatnefsof his power, he fpeoks fuperlauvely ofit. He 01eweth mercy,nay he 1h weth riches of mercy·to wicked men, it is called the rrchrs of hi<good11ejs a11d to~tg[t.jferillg, Rom. 2· 4.But when he cometh to fpeak of mercy to tile Saints, what doth he do ? R.ead Ephej: 2. 7· He doth not only call it riches of mercy, but he calleth it by the fame word that IS ufed here.,;,;,,. pd.Mo'""' .,,,.,.,, the exceeding great riches, what is faid of power here, the fame i.s fatd of mercy there when he fpeaks of mercy to behevers,The exceedmg riches of his grace to 11s-ward there, The exceedmggreatnefs of his power to us-ward here, All the Attributes of God that he bringeth upon the !hge, he ads them, to the uttermof\ now in and through Chri!\, My Brethren, the works of the New Creation they put down the Old,ICreate (faith he,) a New Heaven and a New Earth, mrd thej'ortmr Jhall not 6e remem– bred; he will put forth fuch power in them. Nay, let me yet go further,Go to Hell, you ihall read indeed that he Jheweth his power there; fo it is Rom. 9· 22, what rf God wrllmg tojhew bis wrath, andmake bis poUJtr.lwow~t; and believe it, a blow firuck in wrath hath a great deal of power in it; for anger fiirreth up power,draweth forth the mighty power ofGod.But what followeth comparative– ly to Hell in his working toward the Saints? It followeth verfe 1o.andtbt riches of hugloryup01ttbe vtjie!s of mercy. Though heiheweth a glorious power in his wrath in condemning men, yet he Jheweth a greater riches of glory,of mercy and of all Attributes elfe in faving men, and bringing men to Heaven.The power that God willihew in glorifying his Saints, will infinitely exceed the power he lheweth in condemning wicked men. 'fhe power that lov.e fiirreth up is a greatet power than what wrath fiirreth up in God. I will give you the reafon of it,nothing commandeth power and firength more than love, it oommandeth it more than wrath, Thoujhatt love the Lordthy God with all thyJlrntgth, Mark 12. 13. Doth God love thee? He loves thee with all his !\rength asthou lovefi him, and art to love him, Jer. p. 41. I wi/Jrejo;•ct ovtr them to do them good wtthmy whole heart, mrdwith tny whole foul; his love makes him to love them with all his firength, with all his heart. Now, when he Jheweth forth _the l'ower of his wr_ath when he cometl1 to condemn men, yet let me tell you thts,tt IS not wtth all hts heart, there ts fomething that regrets within him; !or he confideretb that they are his Creatures,and he cloth not will the death of a finner_limply _!or it felf, for there is fomcthing in him that makes a reludan– cy, there ts not hts whole power in this, though it be the power of his wrath.But * en he cometh to lhew forth his power out of love, that draws his whole heart; t ereforeY?U ihall find in Scripture, that mercy it is called God's firength,becaufe hen he wtll have mercy, all the ftrength and power of God accompanieth it. Nttmb. 14. 17.Let the power of my Lord begreat; whattodo?Tode!\roy them l to do fome great work for them ? No, But accordi11g M tho11 hajl fiokm ) faith he,)_ faying the Lord is Jottg fufferillg and ~f great mercy; P,trduti,Ibeje:ch rh~e the rnrqurry if thrs Peopte, accordmg to the great11ejs of thy mercy.His mercy 1S there called his firength, becaufe that love doth draw .forth all the firength of God. Now
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