The Soul's Preparation for Christ

Answ. Why not thou too? Doth God sell his mercy? No, he gives it freely, God keeps open house: Oh the freeness of that mercy and goodness that is in God! he requires nothing of thee to procure it, but he shows mercy because he will show mercy; thou hast no will, but God hath a will: and his showing of mercy depends not on thy will, but upon his own freewill: It is true, God will make a man will and break his heart, because no man otherwise can be saved, but it is as true, that Christ will give you brokenness of heart as well as heaven and salvation. I will take away the heart of stone, and give you a heart of flesh, and cause you to walk in my ways, ¹saith the Lord: hold this truth in thy soul: As there is no worth in the soul that can deserve any thing at Gods hands: so there is no sin (the sin against the holy Ghost only excepted) that can hinder the freeness of Gods grace from saving of us: if thou belong to him, he will hale thee to heaven and pull thee from hell, he will make thee lie in the dust, and wait for mercy, & come grovelling for his grace, and that freely, without any thing on thy part: Who is a God like to thee (saith Micah) who pardonest ⟨p. 217⟩iniquity,² because mercy doth please thee?

Answ. Why not thou too? Doth God sell his mercy? No, he gives it freely, God keepes open house: Oh the freenesse of that mercy and goodnesse that is in God! he requires nothing of thee to procure it, but he shewes mercy because he will shew mercy; thou hast no will, but God hath a will: and his shewing of mercy depends not on thy wil, but upon his owne freewil: It is true, God will make a man will and break his heart, because no man otherwise can be saved, but it is as true, that Christ will give you brokennesse of heart as well as heaven and salvation. I will take away the heart of stone, and give you a heart of flesh, and cause you to walke in my wayes, ¹saith the Lord: hold this truth in thy soule: As there is no worth in the soule that can deserve any thing at Gods hands: so there is no sinne (the sinne against the holy Ghost only excepted) that can hinder the freenes of Gods grace from saving of us: if thou belong to him, he will hale thee to heaven and pull thee from hell, he will make thee lie in the dust, and wait for mercy, & come groveling for his grace, and that freely, without any thing on thy part: Who is a God like to thee (saith Micah) who pardonest