This is the last & most weighty aggravation which the Apostle puts into the measure of the Gentiles sinfulness (which in the former Chapter he had, verse 29. pronounced full before) to make it fuller yet: Their sinning against mercies, ⟨p. 2⟩and despising the riches of Gods goodness, patience, and forbearance, the hateful evil and iniquity whereof, can be better no way set off and illustrated unto mens consciences, than by a display of the riches of that goodness which mea sin against. My purpose therefore is to unlock and carry you into that more common treasury of outward mercies, and lead you through the several rooms thereof, all which do continually lead you unto repentance: That then reflecting upon our ungrateful waste, and abuse of so many mercies in sinning, thereby our sins, every sin, the least, may yet appear more sinful unto us, who are less than the least of all those mercies. Know then, that besides that peculiar treasure of unsearchable riches of grace laid up in Christ (the offer of which neglected and despised,1 adds yet to all that sinfulness, a guilt as far exceeding all that which shall be spoken of, as Heaven exceeds the Earth) There is another untold Mine of Riches the Earth is full of, 2as the Psalmist tells us, and the Apostle here, which these Gentiles only heard of, and which we partake of all as much as they. As there are riches of grace offered to you which can never be exhausted; so there are riches of patience spent upon you, which you will have spent out in the end; the expense of which, cast up, will alone amount to an immense treasure, both of guilt in you, and of wrath in God, as these words inform us.
THis is the last & most weighty aggravation which the Apostle puts into the measure of the Gentiles sinfulnesse (which in the former Chapter he had, verse 29. pronounced full before) to make it fuller yet: Their sinning against mercies, ⟨p. 2⟩and despising the riches of Gods goodnesse, patience, and forbearance, the hatefull evill and iniquity whereof, can be better no way set off and illustrated unto mens consciences, than by a display of the riches of that goodnesse which mea sinne against. My purpose therefore is to unlock and carry you into that more common treasury of outward mercies, and leade you through the severall roomes thereof, all which doe continually leade you unto repentance: That then reflecting upon our ungratefull waste, and abuse of so many mercies in sinning, thereby our sins, every sinne, the least, may yet appeare more sinfull unto us, who are lesse than the least of all those mercies. Know then, that besides that peculiar treasure of unsearchable riches of grace laid up in Christ (the offer of which neglected and despised,1 addes yet to all that sinfulnesse, a guilt as farre exceeding all that which shall be spoken of, as Heaven exceeds the Earth) There is another untold Mine of Riches the Earth is full of, 2as the Psalmist tells us, and the Apostle here, which these Gentiles onely heard of, and which we partake of all as much as they. As there are riches of grace offered to you which can never be exhausted; so there are riches of patience spent upon you, which you will have spent out in the end; the expence of which, cast up, will alone amount to an immense treasure, both of guilt in you, and of wrath in God, as these words informe us.
- 1Ephes. 2. 7.
- 2Psal. 104. 24.
