Ofgodsmercie,audofhisgrace. 319 mercies, Iean making vp our finnes in the remembranceofhis mercies, theybreake forth and flameto ourconfufion in body and fouleeuerlaflingly, Ecclef.t2. Kahn. Heb.t2. Rom.t t. Thy judgementsare as thegreat deeper. Then to feare God when he fheweth nier- cie, and tosoue him when heexecuted] judgements are two hard things, yetneceliàrie. Howfoeuer God Both now forbeare, hewill notdoe foalwayes, buthewallet himdowne from toprepare in his judgement feareand throne of iuftice, and ourchiefe care muftbe, how we ;nay appeare without feareand trembling before him. This is isthat we inu(t thinkeof atmid - ó dathand night, what we (hall anfwere that dreadfull ludge, when he (hall aske for our account. iadgemeut. Let vsfet himbefore oureyes, not as our fond braine is wontto imagineofhim,but as the Scripturesdefcribehim. When he will arife to commaundtheAngell toblowhis trumpe : fucha God as the Seraphins hidetheir faces at hisglorie ; at whofe prefence the moun- taines (moke and meltaway ; whole wroth lhall (hake the foundationsof the earth ; who ouertaketh thewife in their policie ; whowill not accountthe guiltie innocent ; at whole pureneffeall ourinnocencieisasaRained clock;who leiufticetheAngels themfcluesdare .. notcall for ; whofe judgement when is is once kindled, burnethto thebottome of hell. Letthis God take his place, lethim trie our hearts, and examine ourthoughts ; (et him roappeerede- call forthe account and take hisreckoning: let vs thinke howwe fhall Rand before him fireGod milk- quietly withpeace ofcon(cience, who is itthat can doe it, Efa.33.4. let him of vs come out amediator forth.Alas none (hall dare to doe icifthe Lord in bis owneperfon (hould appeare unto vs howferrefu[r without Chrift a redeemer, we (houldfly fromhim withhorrour and feare, and neuerbe able toRand inhisfight. z HethatfearcheththemaieitieofGod,fhallbeouerwhelmedwithglorie ,buthethat fearcheth out themercie, howmuch more fhall hebe ouer whelmedof it? His iudgements beas a great deepe, but the deepeof hismercie fwallowesvp that deepe. Wherefore well faydChryfofome , Great is thehell ofmyfhnnes, butgreater is the deepeneffeof thy mercieGod, merde. OGod." TheScriptures attribute toGodsmercie all dimenfions. Firff, depth ; it fetched D.euids fouie from the ncathermoft heil, ergeit reacheththither. Secondly, breadth; for Pfal.t03. that hefettethour finites as forre from vs, asthe Bath is front the Weft. Thirdly, length ; forit extended]itfelfe not to thecloudesonly,buc to the ftars,which(as loblàith)are not cleane in his fight,yeaeven ro theAngels, in whomhebath found folly,fo that but for his mercie they could not abide histriall. Nay God is able to forgiue vs more, thenwe are ableto firm. And indeede merde is thegateof the Almightie. By no other qualitie of his can ive be fuffered to haue entrance or to approch vnto hint. All other things bath the Lord done inmcafure,number,and weight, Tatting his merciein our redemption, wherein ,, without meafure and beyond all number and weighthewas- tnercifuli:two drops ofblond r, had beenfuffcient, or one cupof hisblood, butthe whippiercedhis skin, thethorneslhis>r chriJifuffe- !le(h, the nayleshis bones, the fpearehis heart, and itisvenefoulewasmadeafacrificefor" red infeat'. finne.' 3 Whenwe loofean outward benefit,we muff notfo thinke ofit as of theloffe ofGods Grace. fauour: but what doeblinde people regard Gods grace? Sothey haueplentie ofcorne andoyle,they refpebtnot the loßeof theirfoules: whereas ifall-thecreatures ofthe world, The concerns (houldweepe forthe lo (lebut ofone foule, it were too little. Yet our people, fo they may defireofricher. cateofthe Lords bread, andenioy tise fatof theearth, carenot whether the Lord (hewa lightfome,ora fearefulicountenance vponthem.Wherefore becaufe we(et fo little by that whichthe Lord lets at fohigha price, theLord willtake fromvs that which weeffectuefo highly,and bringvpon vs fomefodaine defolation. 4 We muffeuerdefire the firit fruits of theSpirit, buthailing attained the Heft begin- 2.Pet.3.s$. nings ofGods grace,wemuff euerwake for the increafeofit by degrees. f Whenwe bane reeeiued mortification and fanaificationás hanfels of Godsmer- cies, thenmay weehope forheauen: for theythat haue receiuedgrace, (hall alforeceiue glorie. 6 Thegraces of God arenot in this children as morningmilles, but as well builded simile.' towerstocontinueall affaulrs. rerfeuerance. 7 Diuerfticofgifts fhouldnot makevs difagree, or tomuy oneanother, but Gih,efebo Ee- 4 fhould spirit.
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