The right method for a settled peace of conscience, and spiritual comfort in 32…

This is the first Article of your Creed, and the first part of Life Eternal, to know God! His substance is quite past humane understanding; therefore never make any attempt to reach the knowledge of it, or to have any positive conceivings of it, for they will be all but Idols, or false conceptions: but his Attributes are manifested to our understandings. Well, consider, that even under the terrible Law, when God proclaims to Moses his own Name, and therein his Nature, Exod. 34.6, 7. the first and greatest part is, The Lord, God, Merciful and Gracious, long suffering, and abundant in Goodness and Truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin. And he hath sworn that he hath no pleasure in the ⟨p. 18⟩death of a sinner, but rather that he return and live. Think not therefore of Gods Mercifulness, with diminishing, extenuating thoughts, nor limit it by the bounds of our frail understandings; for the heavens are not so far above the earth, as his thoughts and ways are above ours. Still remember that you must have no low thoughts of Gods Goodness; but apprehend it as bearing proportion with his Power. As it is blasphemy to limit his Power, so it is to limit his Goodness. The advantages that your soul will get by this right knowledge and estimation of Gods Goodness, will be these.

THis is the first Article of your Creed, and the first part of Life Eternal, to know God! His substance is quite past humane understanding; therefore never make any attempt to reach the knowledge of it, or to have any positive conceivings of it, for they will be all but Idols, or false conceptions: but his Attributes are manifested to our understandings. Well, consider, that even under the terrible Law, when God proclaims to Moses his own Name, and therein his Nature, Exod. 34.6, 7. the first and greatest part is, The Lord, God, Mercifull and Gracious, long suffering, and abundant in Goodness and Truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin. And he hath sworn that he hath no pleasure in the ⟨p. 18⟩death of a sinner, but rather that he return and live. Think not therefore of Gods Mercifulness, with diminishing, extenuating thoughts, nor limit it by the bounds of our frail understandings; for the heavens are not so far above the earth, as his thoughts and wayes are above ours. Still remember that you must have no low thoughts of Gods Goodness; but apprehend it as bearing proportion with his Power. As it is blasphemy to limit his Power, so it is to limit his Goodness. The advantages that your soul will get by this right knowledge and estimation of Gods Goodness, will be these.