The last means is often to meditate upon these points following. First, upon Gods everlasting and undeserved love, which moved him, even whilst we were sinners, the children of wrath, the vassals of Satan, and enemies to God and his grace, to send his only begotten, and dearly beloved Son into the world, that taking our nature upon him, he might therein redeem and save us, by satisfying his justice, in paying for us an all-sufficient price for our redemption. And therefore he that sought us when we were lost, will not cast us away when he hath found us. He that so loved us when we were enemies, will not forsake us now, if we seek his favour. He that out of mere love gave Christ to redeem us by his death, will not, when he hath bought us at so dear a price, suffer us to perish, if we apply Christ and his merits by faith, when as a free gift he offereth him unto us. Secondly, let us meditate on Gods infinite mercy, which causeth him to delight, not in death and destruction, but the conversion and salvation of sinners. The which his mercy being above all 1his works, and infinitely greater then all our sins, is freely offered unto us, and we are sure to receive it, if we do not reject it by unbelief. Thirdly, let us meditate on Gods immutable and infallible truth in his promises, and his omnipotent power, whereby he is able to perform them. Fourthly, upon the all-sufficiency of Christs righteousness and obedience, whereby Gods justice is fully satisfied, and his wrath appeased, of which we shall be partakers, if we believe in him as our only Saviour and Redeemer. Fifthly, let us meditate on the Covenant of grace, wherein the Lord promiseth the pardon of our sins, and the salvation of our souls, not upon the condition of our works and worthiness, nor with exception of our sins, but upon the alone condition of a lively faith, which bringeth forth the fruits thereof in unfeigned repentance. Sixthly, let us meditate upon the generality and indefiniteness of Gods promises, which exclude no sorts of sinners, who do not exclude themselves by their unbelief, rejecting Gods pardon when as it is offered, and pulling off the sovereign salve of Christs merits and obedience, so as it cannot cure their sores of sin.
The last meanes is often to meditate vpon these points following. First, vpon Gods euerlasting and vndeserued loue, which mooued him, euen whilst we were sinners, the children of wrath, the vassals of Satan, and enemies to God and his grace, to send his onely begotten, and dearely beloued Sonne into the world, that taking our nature vpon him, hee might therein redeeme and saue vs, by satisfying his iustice, in paying for vs an all-sufficient price for our redemption. And therefore hee that sought vs when wee were lost, will not cast vs away when hee hath found vs. Hee that so loued vs when wee were enemies, will not forsake vs now, if wee seeke his fauour. He that out of meere loue gaue Christ to redeeme vs by his death, will not, when he hath bought vs at so deare a price, suffer vs to perish, if we apply Christ and his merits by faith, when as a free gift hee offereth him vnto vs. Secondly, let vs meditate on Gods infinite mercy, which causeth him to delight, not in death and destruction, but the conuersion and saluation of sinners. The which his mercy being aboue all 1his workes, and infinitely greater then all our sinnes, is freely offered vnto vs, and wee are sure to receiue it, if wee doe not reiect it by vnbeliefe. Thirdly, let vs meditate on Gods immutable and infallible truth in his promises, and his omnipotent power, whereby hee is able to performe them. Fourthly, vpon the all-sufficiency of Christs righteousnesse and obedience, whereby Gods iustice is fully satisfied, and his wrath appeased, of which wee shall bee partakers, if wee beleeue in him as our onely Sauiour and Redeemer. Fifthly, let vs meditate on the Couenant of grace, wherein the Lord promiseth the pardon of our sinnes, and the saluation of our soules, not vpon the condition of our workes and worthinesse, nor with exception of our sinnes, but vpon the alone condition of a liuely faith, which bringeth foorth the fruits thereof in vnfained repentance. Sixthly, let vs meditate vpon the generality and indefinitenesse of Gods promises, which exclude no sorts of sinners, who doe not exclude themselues by their vnbeliefe, reiecting Gods pardon when as it is offered, and pulling off the soueraigne salue of Christs merits and obedience, so as it cannot cure their sores of sinne.
- 1Rom. 5. 10. Ezek. 33. 11.
