Such is the immense goodness of God, that he will add grace to grace, and when he hath shown mercy, he will show more mercy. As if he expected no other argument of future bounty, but his former bounty. Whom he did predestinate, them also he called: and whom he called, 1them also he justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. Man is to be considered in a four-fold estate. Confectionis, Infectionis, Refectionis, Perfectionis. First, God made him happy, without misery, without iniquity. God hath made man upright: but they have sought out many inventions. 2If a glorious heaven above him, a fruitful earth under him, serviceable creatures about him, could give him solace and felicity, he was not scanted. Here is mans first draught of Gods bounty; his original state. 2. Then man fell from holiness, and so from happiness; and lost the favour of the Creator, with the good of the creature: that a general curse fell on the earth for his sake. Lo, now he lies weltering in his gore, who shall heal him, who shall revive him? God promised him a Saviour, and kept his word. Look on his own only Son hanging, bleeding, dying on an accursed Cross. 3. A Redeemer is come; what is man the better for it, that hath no power to believe on him? Faith he hath none, but what ⟨p. 94⟩God must put into him. Again, Lord help: let us receive yet a third mercy: make us believers, or we are never the better. We had as good have no Saviour, as not to have him our Saviour: and ours he cannot be, unless the Lord make us his. 4. Lastly the Lord gives us Faith: and so we shall receive a happiness by this believed Saviour, better then ever our first creation gave us: a kingdom; a kingdom of life; an eternal kingdom of life; that can never be taken from us. Thus we are still receivers, and God is the giver. We receive blessing from God.
SVch is the immense goodnesse of God, that he will adde grace to grace, aud when hee hath showne mercy, hee will shew more mercy. As if he expected no other argument of future bounty, but his former bounty. Whom he did predestinate, them also he called: and whom he called, 1them also hee iustified: and whom he iustified, them he also glorified. Man is to be considered in a foure-fold estate. Confectionis, Infectionis, Refectionis, Perfectionis. First, God made him happy, without misery, without iniquity. God hath made man vpright: but they haue sought out manie inuentions. 2If a glorious heauen aboue him, a fruitfull earth vnder him, feruiceable creatures about him, could giue him solace and folicity, hee was not scanted. Heere is mans first draught of Gods bountie; his originall state. 2. Then man fell from holinesse, and so from happinesse; and lost the fauour of the Creator, with the good of the creature: that a generall curse fell on the earth for his sake. Loe, now hee lyes weltring in his gore, who shall heale him, who shall reuiue him? God promised him a Sauiour, and kept his word. Looke on his owne only Sonne hanging, bleeding, dying on an accursed Crosse. 3. A Redeemer is come; what is man the better for it, that hath no power to beleeue on him? Faith hee hath none, but what ⟨p. 94⟩God must put into him. Againe, Lord helpe: let vs receiue yet a third mercie: make vs beleeuers, or we are neuer the better. We had as good haue no Sauiour, as not to haue him our Sauiour: and ours hee cannot be, vnlesse the Lord make vs his. 4. Lastly the Lord giues vs Faith: and so we shall receiue a happines by this beleeued Sauiour, better then euer our first creation gaue vs: a kingdome; a kingdome of life; an eternall kingdome of life; that can neuer be taken from vs. Thus wee are still receiuers, and God is the giuer. Wee receiue blessing from God.
- 1Rom. 8. 30.
- 2Eccl. 7. 29.
