588 e /faller greenhamr Readings nants,andrecords of thy iudgements,therefore theeuidence ofthy couenant which thou haltmade tome,is moft holy and precious. Forwhenthe iudgements ofGod were fo fe- nereagainst others, was it not thegreat mercie ofGod to make a couenant with him? Was it nota wonderfull graceof Go ,thatbeing conceaued and bornein fin like vnw the other,he thould'efcapeGods lodgement? Was not it a great mercie, that when all lieds 4iouid perith,Noeband his famihe Ihould efcape .> Was it not thegreat goodnesofGod, The ritemer whetrSodomewas confumed,to faueLot? When the Lord liad leftall toIgnorance,was it eibe rscb to not hisgreatmercie topreferue Abraham?When the Lord ouerthrew the .Egyptians,was tbe(aitb /Hllin itnot freemercie tofaue theIfraelites ?Was knotthe greatgrace of God toleadeforward openingthear CalebandAfrointffthe promifed land, when to fomany heehaddenied-it Our Sauiour eyes,vehen(o Ciuift gauethankstoiusFather, asforafpeciallmercieofGod,thathehadreucaledthof fin`onu things to babes & little ones,which he had concealed tèommany mightieof the world. If tare rknesanz weconfider how many are left in ignorance,giuen ouertó fuperftìtion,& remaiue vnder iierit, the beanie hand ofGod, what a merle ofGod is it to giue vs his truth, toenrich vs with his Gofpell, and to blefe vs withfilch abundance of temporali things?;Oh thattins were knowne ofvs ! oli that euery man would fay : Oh Lord, what am I that thou fhouldelt Thewme fuckmercie ? to giuemè theenioying ofthy word and Gofpell morethananyo- ther,and gluing it to memakeltme to vnderftandit abonemany: ohwhat ant I that thou fhouldeftoffer tome thisgoodnes !I wasborne andconceaued in finne,Ibane multiplied and enlarged my corruptions both before and fince my calling, my vnthankfulnes is great,my vnworthmeffe therefore greater,and yetthou halt not ceafed topreferreme in mercies beforemany. If we confiderthe featefull iudgements of God inconfumingall hy. pocntes,whowill notfay,tliat many hauebeen calledandfewchofen e Whenweihall lee (Ifay)in the dayache Lord,hisfeuerelodgements totreaddowne tiefe hypocrites, and caufe them togot from his prefencetohell; oh howwillwe efteeme that weare in aria, and fay,OJhow low[thylaw!For l fee thy iudgementsareequall,and thoudealeft notwith' me in tuftice,but'Ínmerle; not inanger,but inlour; not rn wrath,but inpitie: therefore thy couenant is fweete, becaufeI haue delèrued thy iudgements, and thou halt Ipared me. Verf:xx o. Myflefh trembler?, forfeareofthee,and f amafraide oftlyiudgements. EAEremay feemeat the firftto be foamcontrarietie bettveene feare and loue, lit! Ioue caufeth not,butcatteth out feare. For lice had raid in theverfe going before, that bee loued the tellimoniesof the Lord;and here bee faith, that his Aefh trembleth for feare. Wherefore at thefiat fight here is tome filetsof contrarietie,butindaede there is none.For he faith,My f!e/b trembleth,&e.whtreby lietheweth,thatas lie loved the law ofGod inhis inward man,and with hispart regenerate : fo itis the outward and oldman, and thepart vnrenued,which is full ofcorruption, that did feare. So thatachee had Gods fpiritto re- nuehis mmde, hee had this witneffe in him, that liedid loue thepromifesofGod : but be- caufe his flefh rebelleth againft theSpirit, andbee found many corruptions of naturere mainingin him,and threatning him; that afterhee was liketo fall againe, ifthe Lord,yea buta little fhouldleant him:he làidt,Iam afraid,leaft formy vnthankfulnes and vnwor- tbie refutingof thy mercie,thou fhouldeft leant me tomyfelfe,and fofhouldelt make a way tothy iudgements. Thus:there is an harmonic in the Prophet : for becaufe as the flefh bath a tremblingfeáre,fo the fpirit reioyceth. Thus,asweehaue often heard,Gods children finde to theircomfort in themfelues faith- in Godspromifes,anda delight inhis word,andfometime theyare grievedforthe abfence of thisfweetnes offaith in the faine. For astheprefen ceufGods fpirit bringeth ioy, fothe abfence thereof feare; asfaith breedeth a loue of Gods prow»fes, fo infidelitie maker! vs afraidof his iudgements. Although Noah had great mule to lone the promifesofGod for his wonderful' deliuerance: fohehadgreat caufe tofeare himtelfe,that hemighthauefal- len afterward. Lot altohauing good caufe to beleeue and embrace thecouenant of God fur his fafcgard,had iultoccafion alto tohaue fufpe6tedliimfelfythat liewas fubieEtto fat. link.
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