The Morning exercise [at] Cri[ppleg]ate, or, Several cases of conscience practically resolved

1. That the instruction of sick persons is Gods institution, so you see in the Text —a messenger, i. e. one sent of God, to this purpose: now Gods institutions are not in vain: every institution of God carries a promise in its bowels to him that doth not ponere obinem, that doth rightly use it: Ministers or Christian friends may go about it with much comfort, for it is Gods work, as he said, Have not I commanded you, &c. it is one of those ways (as you see in the Chapter) which God ordained to reclaim sinners: and when you attempt it, you may expect Gods concurrence. You may pray in faith for Gods assistance in his Ordinance.

2. Gods mercy is proposed by himself, and may be offered by Ministers, even to languishing persons: it is true, it must be done cautiously (as you shall hear) but it may be done, God doth indefinitely tender his mercy to all, and we must not limit where God limits not. Ministers may safely follow Gods example; and whereas it may be thought that such men only come to God as driven by necessity, You must know that God is so gracious, that he receives even such whom mere necessity drives to him, and indeed all true converts are first persuaded to come to God by the sense of their own necessities, though afterwards they are elevated to a more noble disposition: God never rejected any upon this ground: how many came to Christ merely in sense of their bodily maladies, and were sent away with spiritual cure: Christ received her that came not to him, till she had in vain tried all other Physicians. So in that parable of the Prodigal (wherein God is pleased to represent the methods of his grace in the conversion and salvation of sinners) you shall find that God doth not reject that poor prodigal, because he was forced home by that, Durum, telum necessitas, by insuperable straits and difficulties.

2. Gods mercy is proposed by himself, and may be offered by Ministers, even to languishing persons: it is true, it must be done cautiously (as you shall hear) but it may be done, God doth indefinitely tender his mercy to all, and we must not limit where God limits not. Ministers may safely follow Gods evample; and whereas it may be thought that such men only come to God as driven by necessity, You must know that God is so gracious, that he receives even such whom meer necessity drives to him, and indeed all true converts are first perswaded to come to God by the sense of their own necessities, though afterwards they are elevated to a more noble disposition: God never rejected any upon this ground: how many came to Christ meerly in sense of their bodily maladies, and were sent away with spiritual cure: Christ received her that came not to him, till she had in vain tried all other Physitians. So in that parable of the Prodigal (wherein God is pleased to represent the methods of his grace in the conversion and salvation of sinners) you shall find that God doth not reject that poor prodigal, because he was forced home by that, Durum, telum necessitas, by insuperable straits and difficulties.