The divine life in three treatises

II. And now as you see how God is our Benefactor, or most Gracious and Loving Father, let us next see what this must work on us.

And 1. Goodness and Bounty should shame men from their sin, and lead them to Repentance, Rom. 2. 4, 5. Love is not to be abused and requited with unkindness and provocation. He that can turn grace into wantonness, and do evil because grace hath abounded, or that it may abound, shall be forced to confess that his damnation is just. He that will not hate his sin, when he seeth such exceeding Benefits stand by, and heareth mercy, and wonderful mercy plead against it, and upbraid the sinner with ingratitude, is like to die a double death, and shall have no more sacrifice for sin.

2. The Fatherly Love and Benefits of God, do call for our best returns of Love. The Benefits of Creation, oblige all to Love him with all their Heart, and Soul, and Might: Much more the Benefits of Redemption, and especially (as applied by sanctifying Grace to them that shall be heirs of life, it obligeth them by multiplied strongest obligations: The Worst are obliged to as much Love of God, as the Best (for none can be obliged to more than to Love him with all their Heart, &c.) but they are not as much obliged to that Love: We have new and special obligations; and therefore must return a Hearty Love, or we are doubly guilty. Mercies are Loves Messengers, sent from Heaven to win up our Hearts to Love again, and entice us thither. All mercies therefore should be used to this end. That mercy that doth not increase, or excite and help our Love, is abused and lost, as seed that is buried when it's sowed, and never more appeareth. Earthly Mercies point to Heaven, and tell us whence they come, and for what. Like the Flowers of the Spring, they tell us of the reviving approaches of the Sun: But like foolish children, because they are near us, we Love the Flowers better than the Sun; forgetting that the Winter is drawing on. But Spiritual Mercies are as the Sunshine that more immediately dependeth on, and floweth from the Sun it self. And he that will not see (and value) the Sun by its Light, will never see it! These beams come down to invite our Minds and Hearts to God; and if we shut the windows, or play till night, and they return without us, we shall be left to utter darkness.