Again, others I have known acknowledge indeed the terror of the Lord, but yet go desperately on in their presumptions, and that upon two other dangerous downfalls: First, they thus argue, peradventure I belong to Gods Election of Grace, and then he will fetch me in, in his time, and in the mean time his mercy is above my sins, and it is not for me to hasten his work till he will himself. O what a perverseness is this for the wickedness of man to perturb the Order of God? His Rule is, that we should argue from a holy conversation to our Election, and by our diligence in adding one grace unto another to make it sure unto our selves; not to argue from our Election to our calling, nor to neglect all diligence till our Election appear. It is true, the mercy of Christ is infinitely wider than the very rebellions of men, ⟨p. 106⟩and it may be he will snatch such a wicked disputer as this like a brand out of the fire. But then know withal, that every desperate sin thou dost now wilfully run into, will at last cost thee such bitter throws such bloody tears, as thou wouldest not be willing with the least of them to purchase the most sweet and constant pleasure which thy heart can now delight in. And in the mean time it is a bloody adventure upon the patience of God,1 for any man upon expectation of Gods favour to steal time from his service, and to turn the possibility of the mercy of God into an occasion of sinning. The Ninevites gathered another conclusion from those premises; Let man and beast be covered with sackcloth and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from their evil way, and from the violence which is in their hands: and the ground of this resolution was this, Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger that we perish not? And the Prophets teach us to make another use of the possibility of Gods mercy; Rent your hearts and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God, 2for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him, &c. and again, Seek ye the Lord all ye meek of the earth, 3seek righteousness, seek meekness, it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lords anger.
Againe, others I have knowne acknowledge indeede the terrour of the Lord, but yet goe desperately on in their presumptions, and that upon two other dangerous downefals: First, they thus argue, peradventure I belong to Gods Election of Grace, and then he will fetch me in, in his time, and in the meane time his mercy is above my sinnes, and it is not for me to hasten his worke till he will himselfe. O what a perversenesse is this for the wickednesse of man to perturbe the Order of God? His Rule is, that we should argue from a holy conversation to our Election, and by our diligence in adding one grace unto another to make it sure unto our selves; not to argue from our Election to our calling, nor to neglect all diligence till our Election appeare. It is true, the mercy of Christ is infinitely wider than the very rebellions of men, ⟨p. 106⟩and it may be hee will snatch such a wicked disputer as this like a brand out of the fire. But then know withall, that every desperate sin thou dost now wilfully run into, will at last cost thee such bitter throwes such bloudy teares, as thou wouldest not be willing with the least of them to purchase the most sweete and constant pleasure which thy heart can now delight in. And in the meane time it is a bloody adventure upon the patience of God,1 for any man upon expectation of Gods favour to steale time from his service, and to turne the possibilitie of the mercy of God into an occasion of sinning. The Ninivites gathered another conclusion from those premises; Let man and beast be covered with sackecloth and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turne every one from their evill way, and from the violence which is in their hands: and the ground of this resolution was this, Who can tell if God will turne and repent, and turne away from his fierce anger that wee perish not? And the Prophets teach us to make another use of the possibility of Gods mercy; Rent your hearts and not your garments, and turne unto the Lord your God, 2for he is gratious and mercifull, slow to anger, and of great kindenesse, and repenteth him of the evill. Who knoweth if he will returne and repent, and leave a blessing behinde him, &c. and againe, Seeke ye the Lord all ye meeke of the earth, 3seeke righteousnesse, seeke meeknesse, it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lords anger.
- 1Medium interim surantur tempus & commeatum faciu•t delinquendi. Tertull. Jon. 3.8, 9.Medium interim surantur tempus & commeatum faciu•t delinquendi. Tertull. Ion. 3.8, 9.
- 2Joel 2.12, 14.Ioel 2.12, 14.
- 3Zeph. 2.3.
