A29709:292
A word in season to this present generation, or, A sober and serious discourse…
A word in season to this present generation, or, A sober and serious discourse about the favourable, signal and eminent presence of the Lord with his people in their greatest troubles, deepest distresses, and most deadly dangers : with the resolution of several questions, concerning the divine presence, as also the reasons and improvements of this great and glorious truth ... / by Thomas Brooks ...A word in season to this present generation, or, A sober and serious discourse about the favorable, signal and eminent presence of the Lord with his people in their greatest troubles, deepest distresses, and most deadly dangers : with the resolution of several questions, concerning the divine presence, as also the reasons and improvements of this great and glorious truth ... / by Thomas Brooks ...
London: printed for Dorman Newman, 1675
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
I know they are back-slidden, but I will heal their back-slidings; I know they have broken their bones by their fall, but I will make those broken bones to rejoice; I know there is nothing at all in them that is excellent or eminent, that is honourable or acceptable, that is laudable or lovely, yet I will love them freely, Ex mero motu, ⟨p. 215⟩of mine own, free, rich, absolute, sovereign, and independent grace. Thirdly, As he loves you with a free love, so he loves you with an everlasting love. Jer. 31. 3. I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee. Heb. I love thee with the love of perpetuity, or with the love of Eternity. My love and my affections continue still the same to thee, and shall do for ever; or as others carry the words, I love thee with an Ancient love, or with the love of Antiquity; I love thee still with the same affection, that in former ages I bare towards thee. Fourthly, As he loves you with an everlasting love, so he loves you with an unchangeable love. Mal. 3. 6. I am the Lord I change not: therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed Men change, and counsels change, and occurrences change, and Friends change, and Relations change, and Kingdoms change, and Common-wealths change; but God never changes, as Balaam confesses, who was the Devils 1Hackney, and who had a mind to dance with the Devil all day, and then sup with Christ at night. God is neither false nor fickle, he cannot like men say and unsay, 2he can nor alter his mind nor eat his words. [The Eternity of Israel cannot lie nor repent, for he is not a man 3that he should repent.] Men are so mutable and changeable that there is no hold to be taken of what they say; but God is immutable in his nature, in his essence, in his counsels, in his attributes, in his decrees, in his promises, &c. He is (as the School-men say) Omninò immutabi lis, Altogether immutable. Fifthly, As he loves you with an unchangeable love, so he loves you with a special