442 An Expofition upon Chap. IL S 1 L. Two parts or things to be ob- ferved. Fini, an undeferved mercy. Se- condly;a juft and (harp punifhment. T i M. Wherein did merry and goodneffe friar forth towards the rejeffed /ewes? S t L. Four waies : Firft,in this, that their power of hearing and feeing was not taken from them .Thismercy though it be contemptiblebecaufe it iscommon, yet it is a great mercy, as would be well perceived and felt, were any of us depri- ved of thofe corporali faculties.Second- ly,there wasafforded them the belt ob- jeas of fight and hearing, to wit, the word ofGod which the Prophets firft, and after Chri(t declared to them, there- by calling them to repentance and faith. Alfo many and molt excellent miracles, of healing the fick, quickning the dead, reftoring fight to the blinde, &c.i Befìdes innumerable works ofcreation and go- vernment, (I faj) works both of mercy and ¡attire, ordinary and extraordinary, which were continually before their eyes, to move and flirre them to God - wards. Thirdly, that the things which they did hear and fee, were not only wonderfull and fingular, butalfo that oftentimes and not feldome,th.ey did fee and hear them, which is fignifiedby the doubling of the verb, Mat. 13. 14. In hearing they (hall hear. For whenfoever a verb is put before, and &hereunto is ad- ded an infinitive mood, (being turned by a gerund) thereby is fignified an often and vehement anion. Laftly, that befìdes thefe externall means offering grace to thetn,they had inwardly ingraffed into them, force judgement of confcience,and there was given them force light of un- derllanding, which none can deny but they are the good gift of God. T 1 M. But alas they had no profit by all thefe but Burt rather? ' S h L. It is true,that they had no pro- fit by them, but it was through their own default : but as the Sun is no leffe glorious and bright, becaufe weak eyes are offended therewith ; or a plailler or ointment left precious, becaufe it pre- vails not to health : So Gods good gifts,his good word and works, are not the worfe to be etteemed, becaufe they did not benefit fuch as had them. For as the uncurableneffe of the wound or dii eafe, may make the Phyfitian or medi- cinefruftrate without vertue, which }et lofe not their value : fo obflinate mali- ciioufneffe ofthe heart in wicked men, make void Gods mercies, which yet in themfelves be fuck as deferve to be lo- ved and praifed. T i M. What ú the I}oiïrine from hence ? S i t. That there be no caftawaies fo wretched which do not in tome fort tafle of Gods mercies, as may appear by Pfal 145.9. alfo by Rom. 2.4, 5. and by Heb. 6. 4, 5, 6. Even filch as blaf- pheme the Spirit by malicious hating and reproaching the known truth of the Gofpel,yet have plentifully and diverfly felt Gods goodneffe : yea the devils are not without fame fenfe of it, in that they are fpared from their full torments, till the time of finali judgement. Art thou (fay they to Jefus) come , to torment us before the time? Mat.8.29. feeEpbef2.2. Alfo thebodies of the wicked lie in the grave nntill the day of judgement,with- outany pain, which is Gods great mer- cy. The reafon of this doarine is totake from the wicked which (hall perifh all excufe ; this reafon is laid down in Rom. I. an. The heathens had fame knowledge of God by his creatures, to leave them without defence and apolo- gie, left they should fay ; We know no- thing of God,had we not been ignorant, we would have lived better.And fec&nd- ly, it ferves to commend the very great kindneffe of God to us for our imitati- on, as inLuk.6.35,36.Mat.5.45 T i M. What it the ufe of thin d.i1rine ? S i L. It doth reprove filch as doe evillentreat Gods children, tiling them without mercy. How far unlike be tilde to God, who hath mercy even towards fuch as be not his own, but are ungod- ly, inners, yea enemies, and ftrangers from him ? T t M. What was the fharp punifhment obferved in theft laff words ? S To take no fruit at all, but harm rather, by that which there men heard and law, even a farce greater blindneffe and obflinacy both of mind¢ and Ara* Do£frine. What a faith!! beak re. nilh mentit is co have an heart hatched,
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