ChrOs Care ofhis Church. z;1 R had deferved none, for thofe that had provoked fcome VE S E 2. and difpleafure againfi themfelves : but herein isthe care and tendernetre of Chrill abundantly magnified, that it bath in it all the ingredients of a moll foveraigne Efay 5.4 mercy, that nothing more could havebeene done, than Hofir.8. he hath done for us. Firfi, for the foundationandori- ter,;r,zo. ginal ofal mercy,there is in him an overflowing ofleve, Ephef.3.i 9 Ey 5.9 . without flint or meafure, a turning ofheart, a rouling ierfa.2.5.11. and founding of bowels, a love which furpaffeth all 9 knowledge, which is as much beyond the thoughtsor comprehenfions, as it is above themerits ofmen. Secondly, there is aflodie andinquifitivenere how to doe good, a debatingwithin hitnfelfe, a confulting and projeainghow to (hew mercy, anarguing,as it were,of his gracewith mans finne, andhisowne feveritie ; How Hof:11.8. Pali give thee upEphraim ? How !hall Ideliver thee If- Efay reel ? Howthall Imake thee at Admah ? How fhall I fit thee at Zebeim ? mine heart turned within me, my re- pentings arekindled together. True it is, thou hall beene untome as the Rulers ofSodome, and as the peopleof Gomorrah: But fhall I beunto thee,as I have beene un- to them ? Am I not God, and not man ? fhall I change my Covenant, becaufe thou hail multiplied thy back- flidings ? The Lordufeth fuch humane expreffions of his proceedings with men, as iftheir finnes hadput him to a (land, and brought him to difficulties in (hewing mercy. Ilaid, bow fhall 1pet thee amongst the children, andgive theeapleafimt Land ? d-c. Thy cafe is very de- I fperate, and thou haft flopped up the courfes of my mercy towards thy felfe ; how then (hall I makegood my refolutionsof compaffion towards thole that reject{ and nullifie it to theinfelves ? furely there is no way but one,toover-rule the heartsofobfiinatefinners,that they maynot turne away any more. not ,Galt call mee, my Father,thatis,Iwill put filial affeaions,avvful thoughts, militant refolutions into thy heart, and thou (halt:not turne
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