The dead saint speaking to saints and sinners living in several treatisesThe dead saint speaking to saints and sinners living in severall treatises

There is a Misericordia-puniens: and there is a Justitia-parcens▪ A punishing-Mercy, and a sparing-Justice.

As God doth exercise his Sparing-Justice towards the wicked, when he suffers them to go on in sin; and doth not punish them, as we read, Hos. 4 14. — I will not punish your Daughters when they commit Whoredom; nor your Spouses, when they commit Adultery. the like, Ezek. 16.42. — I will cause my fury towards thee to rest, and I will be quiet, and will be no more angry. Upon which one saith, — Solo auditu tremisco; I tremble at the very hearing. For, if God will correct no more, then he will destroy next. This is a Sparing-Justice. And, as God doth exercise this towards the wicked: so he exerciseth a punishing-mercy toward the good. Hence the Apostle, 1 Cor. 11.32. — We are chastised of the Lord, that we might not be condemned with the World.— That we may not be condemned with the World, He suffers the World to condemn us. That we may not love the World; he suffers the World to hate us. That we may be crucified to the World; he suffers the World to crucify us. Therefore we meet with Crosses, with abuses in the World, because he will not have us perish with the World.

As God doth exercise his Sparing-Justice towards the wicked, when hee suffers them to go on in sin; and doth not punish them, as wee read, Hos. 4 14. — I will not punish your Daughters when they commit Whoredome; nor your Spouses, when they commit Adultery. the like, Ezek. 16.42. — I will cause my fury towards thee to rest, and I will bee quiet, and will bee no more angry. Upon which one saith, — Solo auditu tremisco; I tremble at the very hearing. For, if God will correct no more, then hee will destroy next. This is a Sparing-Justice. And, as God doth exercise this towards the wicked: so hee exerciseth a punishing-mercy toward the good. Hence the Apostle,