Fourthly, The Soul thus yielding up the weapons, and coming in as to an enemy, and as conquered, then in the last place the soul freely acknowledgeth, that it is in Gods power to do with him, and to dispose of him as he will; and therefore he lies and licks the dust, and cries mercy, mercy Lord. He doth not think to purchase mercy at the Lords hands, but only saith; it is only in Gods good pleasure to do with him as he will, but he looks at his favour and cries, mercy (Lord) to this poor distressed soul of mine. And when the Lord hears a sinner come from wandering up and down in his privileges, the Lord replies to the soul in this manner and saith. Doest thou need mercy? I had thought thy hearing, and praying, and fasting, would have carried thee to heaven without all hazard, therefore gird up thy loins, and make thy ferventest prayers, and let them meet my Justice, and see if they can bear my wrath and purchase mercy; Nay (saith the sinner) I know it by lamentable experience, I have proved, that all my prayers and performances, will never procure peace to my soul, nor give any satisfaction to thy Justice, I only pray for mercy, and I desire only to hear some news of mercy, to relieve this miserable and wretched soul of mine; it is only mercy that must help me; Oh mercy, if it may be possible: the issue is thus ⟨p. 86⟩much; The sinner seeth that all he hath, and can do, can never succour him, and therefore he throws away his carnal confidence, and he submits himself to the Lord; and now he seeth that the Lord may justly come against him, and that his justice is not satisfied, and that he cannot bear Gods wrath, nor avoid it, and he casts away all his shifts, and lies down at the gate of mercy. As it is with a debtor that stands bound for some far greater sums, then ever he is able to pay; to satisfy of himself he cannot, and his friends will not: and he knows that the bonds are still in force and his creditor will sue him; avoid the suit he cannot, and to bear it, he is not able; and therefore he comes in freely, and offers himself, and his person, and gives up himself into his creditors hands, only he beseecheth him to remit that which he can never pay. Just so it is with the soul of a poor sinner. The Soul is the Debtor: and Divine Justice is the Creditor.
Fourthly, The Soule thus yielding up the weapons, and comming in as to an enemy, and as conquered, then in the last place the soule freely acknowledgeth, that it is in Gods power to doe with him, and to dispose of him as he will; and therefore he lyes and lickes the dust, and cryes mercy, mercy Lord. He doth not thinke to purchase mercy at the Lords hands, but onely saith; it is onely in Gods good pleasure to doe with him as he will, but hee lookes at his favour and cryes, mercy (Lord) to this poore distressed soule of mine. And when the Lord heares a sinner come from wandring up and downe in his priviledges, the Lord replyes to the soule in this manner and saith. Doest thou need mercy? I had thought thy hearing, and praying, and fasting, would have carried thee to heaven without all hazard, therefore gird up thy loynes, and make thy ferventest prayers, and let them meet my Iustice, and see if they can beare my wrath and purchase mercy; Nay (saith the sinner) I know it by lamentable experience, I have prooved, that all my prayers and performances, will never procure peace to my soule, nor give any satisfaction to thy Iustice, I onely pray for mercy, and I desire onely to heare some newes of mercy, to relieve this miserable and wretched soule of mine; it is onely mercy that must helpe me; Oh mercy, if it may be possible: the issue is thus ⟨p. 86⟩much; The sinner seeth that all he hath, and can do, can never succour him, and therefore he throwes away his carnall confidence, and he submits himselfe to the Lord; and now he seeth that the Lord may justly come against him, and that his justice is not satisfied, and that he cannot beare Gods wrath, nor avoyd it, and he casts away all his shifts, and lyes downe at the gate of mercy. As it is with a debtor that stands bound for some farre greater summes, then ever he is able to pay; to satisfie of himselfe he cannot, and his friends will not: and he knowes that the bonds are still in force and his creditor will sue him; avoyd the suit he cannot, and to beare it, he is not able; and therefore he comes in freely, and offers himselfe, and his person, and gives up himselfe into his creditors hands, onely he beseecheth him to remit that which he can never pay. Iust so it is with the soule of a poore sinner. The Soule is the Debtor: and Divine Iustice is the Creditor.
