The unbelievers preparing for Christ. By T.HThe vnbeleevers preparing for Christ. By T.H

The use of the point is threefold, it is a ground, first of instruction, here we may see and wonder at the riches of Gods bounty and goodness in his reasonable dealing with poor sinners, in that God doth not exact every thing at the utmost of us, he doth not require every thing in the utmost rigour, he doth not take poor sinners by the throat (as he did his fellow-servant) saying, Pay me that thou owest me; there is no poor sinner, but he may send the Devil after him to drag him into hell, he may justly say unto every sinful soul, I gave thee perfect righteousness and holiness and ability to perform obedience to all my commandments, either give me that I expected from thee, and thou owest unto me, or else to hell thou must go, where is my service and my obedience and my righteousness that I required of thee; God may say thus to every poor sinner, but he doth not deal thus in justice with us, but blessed be his name, he doth not expect that we should have all sufficiency in our selves; he doth not say, That he that hath no sin shall be saved; let him take Christ, he that is able to perform obedience to all my Commandments, and do whatsoever require, he shall have Christ and salvation by him he doth not deal with us after this manner, for then woe were it with us, it is not exact obedience that Christ requireth of us, but the condition is this, If any poor soul will take mercy offered ⟨p. 63⟩and receive grace tendered unto him, he shall have mercy, he shall receive grace; as if God should say, Thou art a poor sinful creature, many weaknesses are with thee, many imperfections trouble thee, many corruptions do oppress thee, I require no exaction of thee, if thou wilt take Christ and mercy, then Christ is thine, and mercy is thine; is not this marvellous mercy, is not this wonderful goodness. If there should be a poor miserable wretched creature, one that had neither portion nor ability in any measure, nor any thing that could procure a husband, no friends to succour her, no parents to relieve her, but were fatherless and motherless, and void of all comfort;

The use of the point is threefold, it is a ground, first of instruction, here we may see and wonder at the riches of Gods bounty and goodnesse in his reasonable dealing with poore sinners, in that God doth not exact every thing at the utmost of us, he doth not require every thing in the utmost rigour, he doth not take poore sinners by the throat (as he did his fellow-servant) saying, Pay me that thou owest mee; there is no poore sinner, but he may send the Devill after him to dragge him into hell, he may justly say unto every sinfull soule, I gave thee perfect righteousnesse and holinesse and abilitie to performe obedience to all my commandements, either give mee that I expected from thee, and thou owest unto me, or else to hell thou must goe, where is my service and my obedience and my righteousnesse that I required of thee; God may say thus to every poore sinner, but hee doth not deale thus in justice with us, but blessed be his name, he doth not expect that wee should have all sufficiencie in our selves; he doth not say, That he that hath no sinne shall bee saved; let him take Christ, he that is able to performe obedience to all my Commandements, and doe whatsoever require, he shall have Christ and salvation by him he doth not deale with us after this manner, for then woe were it with us, it is not exact obedience that Christ requireth of us, but the condition is this, If any poore soule will take mercy offered