476 An Expofition upon ring long, being ready to receive with their Father in the Gofpell, loft and re- turning children ; and refolving not to (hake offand u fe extremity, till there be no remedy,and that all hope begone. DIALOGUE XVIII. Verf. 22. Beholdtherefore the bountifulneffe and feverity of God ; on them which have fain, feveri- ty : but toward thee, bountifulneffe, if thou continue in his bountifulneffe : or elfe thou fhali alto be cut off. T J SLOr H EUs. Hew us what theft words import and i anean S t L. The Apoftle goeth forward in his exhortation of the Gentiles to Chriftian humility ; and drawing to- wards the conclufion of it, heapeth up many realons in a (mall room, which he would have all beleevers ever to have before their eyes ; this one verfe con taineth four motives unto modefty and lowlineffe of minde. Firfl, from the example of Gods feverity in cutting off the Jewes. Secondly, from the efficient caule of the vocation of the Gentiles, (to wit) Gods bounty and goodneffe. Thirdly, from the condition upon which they hold thisbounty,namely,if they continue in this eftate wherein his goodnefs hath let them.Fourthly,f roma commination of deftruftion, if through pride and fecurity they forfake the Go- fpell and lofe their faith ; which is fpo- ken to :the whole nation,not to any fin- gala!' perfon,which cannot be cut off, yet thiscaution is profitable. T t M. 2Yaw to the interpretation, and tell1 what doth [bounty and feverity] fignifie? S i L. Bounty lignifies the clemency of God, and his great readinefl-e to do good unto, and to pleafru'e men. Se- verity lignifies that extreme rigour in God, whereby he dealeth with his ene- mies precifely and exaftlg according to their defervings, or the cutting off of his enemies according to extremity of juffice. Chap. ii, T i M. What may be meant by [behold ?] S i L. It is as much as to mule upon and diligently to confider in our minds, till they be fo plain and clear to us, as things which we do fee with our eyes. T i la. What doEirine are We to learn from theft words thus declared ? S i L. That goodncfs and juflice,mer- cy and feverity, are both to be found in one God : fee Exod.2 o.5, 6. & 3 I.. 6, 7. Rom.2. 4,5. T i M.But are not mercy and feverity con- trary qualities, how then can they fall into the nature of God ? Is God contrary to himfelj ? S i L. TheCe qualities agree together, and arenot repugnant in God, but are contrary only in their effeas upon men. One and the fell-fame God is mercifull and fevere inrefpe& of divers perlons upon whom he worketh, but he is not contrary to himfelf, no more then a good Governour is contrary to him - felf, when he feverely punifheth evill doers, and praifeth and extolleth filch as do well : alto one and the fell -fame Sun foftneth the waxe, but hardneth the clay, yet hath in it no repugnant qualities, though it bring forth con- trary effe &s, according to the nature tif the fubjelk, or matter on which it wo keth. T ms. What uf are we to make of this Doeirine? S i L. Firft,itconfutes thofeancient Hereticks the Manichees, which faigned two Gods, the one good and the Au- thor of blef ings; the other feuere, and the author of punifhment ; whereas ¡au1 calleth one felf -fame God both good and rigorous. Secondly, it warnes all which have any authority publick or private, to bear this image of God in their government, neither to be-alto- gether remiffe or wholly rigorous, but to mixe kindneffe with extremity, ac- cording to the condition of perlons and crimes. T i M. What h the next dollrine? S i L. Out of the word (behold) we learn that Chriffiansare bound to bend their mindes to think and medi- tate upon,both the goodneffe andwrath ofGod. For God doth here enjoyn it as a vfe.
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