1. That no sin (though never so great) should be a cause to move any Christian to despair, so long as God's mercy by so many millions of degrees is greater: and that every penitent and believing Sinner hath the pardon of all his sins confirmed by the Word and Oath of God;* two immutable things, wherein it is impossible that God should lye. His Word is, that at what time soever a sinner, whosoever, doth repent of his sin, whatsoever, (for both time, and sins, and sinners are indefinite) from the bottom of his heart, bGod will blot forth all his sins out of his remembrance, that they shall be mentioned unto him no more. 3If we will not take his word (which God forbid we should doubt of) he hath given us his Oath: As I live, I desire not the death of the wicked, 4but that the wicked turn from his way and live. As if he had said, will ye not believe my Word? I swear by my life, that I delight not to damn any sinner for his sins, but rather to save him upon his conversion and repentance.5 The meditation hereof moved Tertullian to exclaim: O how happy are we, when God sweareth that he wills not our damnation! O what miserable wretches are we, if we will not believe God when he sweareth this truth unto us! Listen, O drooping Spirit, whose soul is assailed with ways of faithless despair; how happy were it to see many like thee, and Hezekiah? 6(who mourn like Doves ⟨p. 414⟩for the sense of sin, and chatter like Cranes and Swallows for the fear of God's anger) rather than to behold many who die like Beasts without any feeling of their own estate, or any fear of God's wrath, or Tribunal Seat, before which they are to appear? Comfort thy self, O languishing soul; for if this earth hath any for whom Christ spilt his blood on the Cross, thou assuredly art one Cheer up therefore thy self in the all-sufficient atonement of the blood of the Lamb, which speaketh better things than that of Abel. 7And pray for those, who never yet obtained the grace to have such a sense and detestation of sin. Thou art one indeed, for whom Christ died, and from whom a wounded spirit (judging rather according to his feeling than his faith) hath wrung that doleful voice of Christ, aMy God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? And doubt not but ere long thou shalt as trulyb reign with him as now thou dost suffer with him, forc Yea andd Amen hath spoken it.
1. That no sin (though never so great) should be a cause to move any Christian to despair, so long as God's mercy by so many millions of degrees is greater: and that every penitent and believing Sinner hath the pardon of all his sins confirmed by the Word and Oath of God;* two immutable things, wherein it is impossible that God should lye. His Word is, that at what time soever a sinner, whosoever, doth repent of his sin, whatsoever, (for both time, and sins, and sinners are indefinite) from the bottom of his heart, bGod will blot forth all his sins out of his remembrance, that they shall be mentioned unto him no more. 3If we will not take his word (which God forbid we should doubt of) he hath given us his Oath: As I live, I desire not the death of the wicked, 4but that the wicked turn from his way and live. As if he had said, will ye not believe my Word? I swear by my life, that I delight not to damn any sinner for his sins, but rather to save him upon his conversion and repentance.5 The meditation hereof moved Tertullian to exclaim: O how happy are we, when God sweareth that he wills not our damnation! O what miserable wretches are we, if we will not believe God when he sweareth this truth unto us! Listen, O drooping Spirit, whose soul is assailed with ways of faithless despair; how happy were it to see many like thee, and Hezekiah? 6(who mourn like Doves ⟨p. 414⟩for the sense of sin, and chatter like Cranes and Swallows for the fear of God's anger) rather than to behold many who die like Beasts without any feeling of their own estate, or any fear of God's wrath, or Tribunal Seat, before which they are to appear? Comfort thy self, O languishing soul; for if this earth hath any for whom Christ spilt his blood on the Cross, thou assuredly art one Chear up therefore thy self in the all-sufficient atonement of the blood of the Lamb, which speaketh better things than that of Abel. 7And pray for those, who never yet obtained the grace to have such a sense and detestation of sin. Thou art one indeed, for whom Christ died, and from whom a wounded spirit (judging rather according to his feeling than his faith) hath wrung that doleful voice of Christ,
- *Heb. 6. 18.
- bEzek. 18. 22.
- 3Dr. King of London, his Lectures on Jonah.Dr. King of Lond•n, his Lectures on Jonah.
- 4Ezek. 33. 11.
- 5O foelices nos quorum causa jurat Deus! O miserrimos nos si non Deo quidem juranti credimus? Tertul.
- 6Isa. 38. 14.
- 7Heb. 12. 24.
- aMat. 27. 46.
- b2 Tim. 2. 11.
- c2 Cor. 1. 20.
- dRev. 3. 14.
