Secondly, though GODS decree be unchangeable, yet if thou canst find a change in thy self, it shall go well with thee: as if a father should take up an unchangeable resolution to disinherit a stubborn and ungracious child, because he is so; if the child should change now and alter his courses, and grow sober, the father may now receive him to mercy, and yet no change in his resolution, but the change is in the son. Or, if a Prince should set down in a law, (as a law of the Medes and Persians, that alters not) saying, I will not receive to favour such a rebellious subject, because he is so: yet if his subject be changed, he may receive him, and yet his Decree may be unchangeable, because the change was in the subject, and the decree was grounded upon this, if he did remain so rebellious and stubborn: So I say to thee, if GOD hath therefore threatened to reject thee, because thou art a stubborn and rebellious wretch, if now thou shalt find a change in thy self, that thy stubborn heart is broken, standing in awe of him, fearing to offend him, or to commit any sin that thou knowest to be a sin, I say, notwithstanding that unchangeableness of his, he cannot but receive thee to mercy. As if a Physician should take up an unchangeable resolution, not to give his patient such restorative physic, because his stomach is foul, so that it will not work, and because he will not receive such purgations whereby he should be prepared for it: But if there be a change in him, if his stomach ⟨p. 95⟩be clean & fit for it, so that it will work, and he become willing to receive it, if he give it him, the change is not in the Physician, but in the patient. Therefore when you hear this, sit not down discouraged, but rather go and sit alone, and consider of thy sins, and give not over till thy heart be broken for them: and when this is done, be sure that he will receive thee to mercy, for he may be unchangeable in his decree, if the change be in thee. And therefore this Doctrine doth not discourage, but rather stir up, and incite men to change their courses, yea it is the very scope of it.
Secondly, though GODS decree be unchangable, yet if thou canst find a change in thy selfe, it shall go well with thee: as if a father should take up an unchangeable resolution to disinherit a stubborne and ungracious child, because he is so; if the child should change now and alter his courses, and grow sober, the father may now receiue him to mercy, and yet no change in his resolution, but the change is in the sonne. Or, if a Prince should set downe in a law, (as a law of the Medes and Persians, that alters not) saying, I will not receive to favour such a rebellious subject, because he is so: yet if his subject be changed, he may receive him, and yet his Decree may be unchangeable, because the change was in the subject, and the decree was grounded upon this, if hee did remaine so rebellious and stubborne: So I say to thee, if GOD hath therefore threatned to reject thee, because thou art a stubborne and rebellious wretch, if now thou shalt finde a change in thy selfe, that thy stubborne heart is broken, standing in awe of him, fearing to offend him, or to commit any sinne that thou knowest to be a sinne, I say, notwithstanding that unchangeablenesse of his, he cannot but receive thee to mercy. As if a Physitian should take up an unchangeable resolution, not to give his patient such restorative physicke, because his stomacke is foule, so that it will not worke, and because he will not receive such purgations whereby he should be prepared for it: But if there be a change in him, if his stomacke ⟨p. 95⟩be cleane & fit for it, so that it will work, and he become willing to receive it, if hee give it him, the change is not in the Physitian, but in the patient. Therefore when you heare this, sit not downe discouraged, but rather goe and sit alone, and consider of thy sinnes, and give not over till thy heart be broken for them: and when this is done, be sure that he will receive thee to mercy, for he may be unchangeable in his decree, if the change be in thee. And therefore this Doctrine doth not discourage, but rather stirre up, and incite men to change their courses, yea it is the very scope of it.
