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

Object. But God is Just as well as Merciful: and for all his Merciful nature, he will damn most of the world for ever in hell.

Object. But God is Just as well as Mercifull: and for all his Mercifull nature, he will damn most of the world for ever in hell.

Answ. 1. But James saith, Mercy rejoiceth against Judgement, Jam. 2.13. 2. God is necessarily the Governor of the world (while there is a world) and therefore must govern it in Justice, and so must not suffer his Mercy to be perpetually abused by wicked, wilful, contemptuous sinners. But then consider two things; 1. That he destroyeth not humble souls that lye at his feet, and are willing to have Mercy on his easy terms; but only the stubborn despisers of his Mercy: He damneth none but those that will not be saved in his way; that is, that will not accept of Christ and salvation freely given them (I speak of those that hear the Gospel: for others their case is more unknown to us:) And is it any diminution to his infinite Mercy, that he will not save those that will not be entreated to accept of salvation? 2. And consider how long he useth to wait on sinners, and even beseech them to be reconciled to him, before he destroyeth them: and that he heapeth multitudes of Mercies on them, even in their rebellion, to draw them ⟨p. 25⟩to Repentance and so to Life? and is it unmercifulness yet if such men perish?

Answ. 1. But James saith, Mercy rejoiceth against Judgement, Jam. 2.13. 2. God is necessarily the Governour of the world (while there is a world) and therefore must govern it in Justice, and so must not suffer his Mercy to be perpetually abused by wicked, wilfull, contemptuous sinners. But then consider two things; 1. That he destroyeth not humble souls that lye at his feet, and are willing to have Mercy on his easie termes; but only the stubborn despisers of his Mercy: He damneth none but those that will not be saved in his way; that is, that will not accept of Christ and salvation freely given them (I speak of those that hear the Gospel: for others their case is more unknown to us:) And is it any diminution to his infinite Mercy, that he will not save those that will not be intreated to accept of salvation? 2. And consider how long he useth to wait on sinners, and even beseech them to be reconciled to him, before he destroyeth them: and that he heapeth multitudes of Mercies on them, even in their rebellion, to draw them