It is necessary in respect of receiving and seeking for mercy and pardon, and forgiveness, which ⟨p. 70⟩1is the main thing here promised, I will be merciful to their sins, for until then our propounding pardon and the promises of it, and inviting men to come in would be all but lost labour: for until then, men would give us that answer, and the promises the same entertainment, which they did that were invited to the Marriage Feast, Matthew 22. 5, 6. The text says they made light of it, and so 2we find by experience, that when we preach the great things of the Gospel; as Justification, and remission of sins, men account them as a small thing, and set light by them: and the reason is, because they are not humbled; men otherwise would not prize CHRIST nor the promise of the pardon by him (as Manna was not prized by the Israelites) nor his righteousness, by which they are to be forgiven: a man happily would be content to have CHRISTS righteousness, as a bridge to go upon to Heaven, but he will not prize it as Paul did, who was ambitious of nothing so much as to be found in CHRIST, not having his own righteousness, but that which is by faith, accounting all things in himself and out of himself dross and dung in comparison of it; but a man unhumbled will not set this high price upon it, and God will not have his Jewels, much less Christ and pardon of sin cast away at random to those who shall not value them; but when a man shall see the badness of his nature, the multitudes of his particular sins, and see that in his heart he never thought had been there, and stand amazed at them, then to have such a righteousness as shall perfectly cover ⟨p. 71⟩all these sins, this he will think a great matter. So it was to Saint Paul, when he saw himself the greatest of sinners. And when a man thus sees his particular sores and diseases, and something in Christs righteousness to answer them all; as Christs patience to answer his impatience, Christs 3love to stand for his hatred, Christs holiness of nature to cover his uncleanness, he will then begin to esteem every Jewell in that Cabinet, for he knows he could not spare one part of that righteousness, he sees a glorious righteousness to clothe and cover his nakedness from top to toe, and this makes him prize it and every part of it, which a man unhumbled will not do;
It is necessary in respect of receiving and seeking for mercy and pardon, and forgivenesse, which ⟨p. 70⟩1is the maine thing here promised, I will bee mercifull to their sinnes, for untill then our propounding pardon and the promises of it, and inviting men to come in would bee all but lost labour: for untill then, men would give us that answer, and the promises the same entertainement, which they did that were invited to the Marriage Feast, Matthew 22. 5, 6. The text sayes they made light of it, and so 2wee finde by experience, that when wee preach the great things of the Gospell; as Justification, and remission of sinnes, men account them as a small thing, and set light by them: and the reason is, because they are not humbled; men otherwise would not prize CHRIST nor the promise of the pardon by him (as Manna was not prized by the Israelites) nor his righteousnesse, by which they are to bee forgiven: a man happily would be content to have CHRISTS righteousnesse, as a bridge to goe upon to Heaven, but hee will not prize it as Paul did, who was ambitious of nothing so much as to bee found in CHRIST, not having his owne righteousnesse, but that which is by faith, accounting all things in himselfe and out of himselfe drosse and dung in comparison of it; but a man unhumbled will not set this high prce upon it, and God wil not have his Jewels, much lesse Christ and pardon of sinne cast away at randome to those who shall not value them; but when a man shall see the badnesse of his nature, the multitudes of his particular sins, and see that in his heart he never thought had beene there, and stand amazed at them, then to have such a righteousnesse as shall perfectly cover ⟨p. 71⟩all these sinnes, this he will thinke a great matter. So it was to Saint Paul, when he saw himselfe the greatest of sinners. And when a man thus sees his particular sores and diseases, and something in Christs righteousnesse to answer them all; as Christs patience to answer his impatience, Christs 3love to stand for his hatred, Christs holinesse of nature to cover his uncleannesse, he will then begin to esteeme every Iewell in that Cabinet, for he knowes he could not spare one part of that righteousnesse, he sees a glorious righteousnesse to cloath and cover his nakednesse from top to toe, and this makes him prize it and every part of it, which a man unhumbled will not do;
- 12 Seeking mercy.2 Seeking mer•cy.
- 2Mat. 22. 5, 6
- 3Christs righteousness not esteemed by men unhumbled.Christs righteousnesse not esteemed by men unhumbled.
