Sibbes - Houston-Packer Collection BX9318.S45 L5 1638

Good will towards met:. z8t propenfion inhim todoe good, fo it is love. As it is his free, fo it is his good pleafure or grace,as it is toperlons in miferie, it is mercy. The foun taine ofall is love. But as theobjeé} is diverfely confidered, fo the termes be divers , good pleafure and grace imply freedome in the par- ty loving, and mercy implies mìfery in the pa-- ty loved. Now this freegoodwill and grace,it is towards Men, towards man-kind, hee faithnot, towards ,ingels; it is more towards men, then ( even) to good Angels (in íome fort,) for now man i s ta- ken tobe the SpoufeofChrifl, good Angels are not fo : neither is it good will to evill Angels, for their (late is determined , there is no altering oftheir condition : therefore God is called Phi- lanthropes, not Philangelo.r; and the Scripture calls this Philanthrofia the love that God hath (hew- ed to men in Chrifi. Therefore wee íhould have thoughts ofGod, as gracious, lovingour nature, more then theAngelicall nature in force refpeós. And learnt this for imitation, to love man- kind. God loved mankind and furely, there is none that is borneof God, but hee loves the natureof man ,wherefoever bee finds it, heewill not (}and altogether whether it be good or bad, &c. But becaufeweare now in theway and our Efate is not determined, and becaufe God loves the nature ofman, therefore every man that bath the Spiritof God, loves mankind , he will labour to gaine Turkes, or Indians, &c. if V 2 he To love man- kind. k

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