TO prevent a further inconvenience, I was drawn to let these notes pass with some review; Considering there was an intendment of publishing them, by some who had not perfectly taken them. And these first, as being next at hand, and having had occasion lately of some fresh thoughts concerning this argument, by dealing ⟨image 12⟩with some the chief ground of whose trouble, was the want of considering of the gracious nature and office of Christ. The right conceit of which is the spring of all service to Christ, and comfort from him. God hath laid up all grace and comfort in Christ for us, and planted a wonderful sweetness of pity and love in his heart towards us. As God his Father hath fitted him with a body, so with a heart to be a merciful 1Redeemer. What doth the Scriptures speak but Christs love and tender care over those that are humbled: and besides the mercy that resteth in his own breast, he works ⟨image 12⟩the l•ke impression in his Ministers and others, to comfort 2the feeble minded, and to bear with the weak. Ministers by their calling are friends of the Bride, and to bring Christ and his Spouse together, and therefore ought upon all good occasions to lay open all the excellencies of Christ, and amongst others, as that he is highly borne, mighty, one in whom all the treasures of wisdom are hid, &c, so likewise gentle, and of a good nature, and of a gracious disposition. It cannot but cheer the heart of the spouse, to consider in all her infirmities and miseries she is subject unto, ⟨image 13⟩that she hath a husband of a kind disposition, that knows how to give the honour of mild usage to the weaker vessel. That will be so far from rejecting her, because she is weak, that he will pity her the more. And as he is kind at all times, so especially when it is most seasonable, he will speak to her heart, especially 3in the wilderness. The more glory to God, and the more comfort to a Christian soul ariseth from the belief and application of these things, the more the enemy of Gods glory & mans comfort, labours to breed mispersuasions of them, that if he cannot keep men from ⟨image 13⟩heaven, and bring them into that cursed condition he is in himself, yet he may trouble them in their passage. Some and none of the worst, Satan prevails withal so far, as to neglect the means, upon fear they should (being so sinful) dishonour God and increase their sins:
TO prevent a further inconvenience, I was drawne to let these notes passe with some review; Considering there was an intendmēt of publishing them, by some who had not perfectly taken them. And these first, as being next at hand, and having had occasion lately of some fresh thoughts concerning this argumēt, by dealing ⟨image 12⟩with some the chiefe groūd of whose trouble, was the want of cōsidering of the gracious nature and office of Christ. The right conc•ipt of which is the spring of all service to Christ, and comfort from him. God hath laid up all grace and comfort in Christ for us, and planted a wonderfull sweetnesse of pitty and love in his heart towards us. As God his Father hath fitted him with a body, so with a heart to be a mercifull 1Redeemer. What doth the Scriptures speake but Christs love and tender care over those that are humbled: and besides the mercy that resteth in his owne brest, hee workes ⟨image 12⟩the l•ke impression in his Ministers and others, to comfort 2the feeble minded, and to beare with the weake. Ministers by their calling are friends of the Bride, and to bring Christ and his Spouse together, and therefore ought upon all good occasions to lay open al the excellencies of Christ, and amongst others, as that hee is highly borne, mighty, one in whom all the treasures of wisedome are hid, &c, so likewise gentle, and of a good nature, and of a gracious d•sposition. It cannot but cheere the heart of the spouse, to consider in all her infirmities and miseries she is subject unto, ⟨image 13⟩that shee hath a husband of a k•nd disposition, that knowes how to give the honour of milde usage to the weaker vessell. That will be so farre frō rejecting her, because she is weake, that he will pity her the more. And as hee is kinde at all times, so especially when it is most seasonable, he will speake to her heart, especially 3in the wildernesse. The more glory to God, and the more comfort to a Christian soule ariseth from the beliefe and application of these things, the more the enemy of Gods glory & mans comfort, labours to breed misperswasions of them, that if hee cannot keepe men from
- 1Heb. 10. 7.
- 21 Th. s. 5 14
- 3Hosea 2. 24.
