He sets no more by Christ, than the whole by the physician: Mat. 9. 12. he prizes not his balm, values not his cure, tramples upon his blood. Heb. 10. 29. Now, would it stand with wisdom, to force pardon and life, upon them that would give him no thanks for them? Will the all-wise God (when he hath forbidden us to do it) throw his holy things to dogs, and his pearl to swine, that would (as it were) but turn again and rent him? Mat. 7. 6. This would make mercy to be despised indeed. Wisdom requires, that life be given, in a way suitable to Gods honour; and that God provide for the securing his own glory, as well as mans felicity. It would be dishonourable to God, to set his jewels in the snouts of swine (continuing such) and to bestow his choicest riches on them, that have more pleasure in their swill, than the Heavenly delights that he doth offer. God should lose the praise and glory of his grace, if he should cast it away on them, that were not only unworthy, but unwilling. Secondly, they are no way suited to them. The divine wisdom is seen in suiting things each to other, the means to the end, the object to the faculty, the quality ⟨p. 76⟩of the gift to the capacity of the receiver. Now, if Christ should bring the unregenerate sinner to Heaven, he could take no more felicity there, than a beast, if you should bring him into a beautiful room, to the society of learned men, and a well furnished table; when as the poor thing had much rather be grazing with his fellow-brutes. Alas, what should an unsanctified creature do in Heaven! he could take no content, because nothing suits him. The place doth not suit him, he would be but piscis in arido, quite out of his element, as a swine in the parlour, or a fish out of water. The company doth not suit him. What communion hath darkness with light, corruption with perfection? Filth and rottenness, with glory and immortality? The employment doth not suit him. The anthems of Heaven fit not his mouth, suit not his ear. Canst thou charm thy beast with music? or wilt thou bring him to thy Organ, and expect that he should make thee melody, or keep time with the skilful quire? Or had he skill, he would have no will, and so could find no pleasure, no more than the nauseous stomach in the meat, on which it hath newly surfeited. Spread thy table with delicates before a languishing patient, and it will be but a very offence.
He sets no more by Christ, than the whole by the physician: Mat. 9. 12. he prizes not his balm, values not his cure, tramples upon his blood. Heb. 10. 29. Now, would it stand with wisdom, to force pardon and life, upon them that would give him no thanks for them? Will the all-wise God (when he hath forbidden us to do it) throw his holy things to dogs, and his pearl to swine, that would (as it were) but turn again and rent him? Mat. 7. 6. This would make mercy to be despised indeed. Wisdom requires, that life be given, in a way suitable to Gods honour; and that God provide for the securing his own glory, as well as mans felicity. It would be dishonourable to God, to set his jewels in the snouts of swine (continuing such) and to bestow his choicest riches on them, that have more pleasure in their swill, than the Heavenly delights that he doth offer. God should lose the praise and glory of his grace, if he should cast it away on them, that were not only unworthy, but unwilling. Secondly, they are no way suited to them. The divine wisdom is seen in suiting things each to other, the means to the end, the object to the faculty, the quality ⟨p. 76⟩of the gift to the capacity of the receiver. Now, if Christ should bring the unregenerate sinner to Heaven, he could take no more felicity there, than a beast, if you should bring him into a beautiful room, to the society of learned men, and a well furnished table; when as the poor thing had much rather be grazing with his fellow-bruits. Alas, what should an unsanctified creature do in Heaven! he could take no content, because nothing suits him. The place doth not suit him, he would be but piscis in arido, quite out of his element, as a swine in the parlour, or a fish out of water. The company doth not suit him. What communion hath darkness with light, corruption with perfection? Filth and rottenness, with glory and immortality? The employment doth not suit him. The anthems of Heaven fit not his mouth, suit not his ear. Canst thou charm thy beast with musick? or wilt thou bring him to thy Organ, and expect that he should make thee melody, or keep time with the skilful quire? Or had he skill, he would have no will, and so could find no pleasure, no more than the nauseous stomach in the meat, on which it hath newly surfeited. Spread thy table with delicates before a languishing patient, and it will be but a very offence.
