An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

Thirdly, Although the godly do thus judge of preventing mercies, as well ¹as of positive mercies, yet because we are apt to account of mercies by sense, and feeling we have, hence it is, That the godly are exceedingly-forgetful many times about preventing mercies. It is often said, We never prize a mercy till we want it. How precious is health to a diseased man, ease to a tormented man? And so also we never account any evil grievous, but while we feel it, while it is upon our backs; and thereupon we are most sensible of such mercies, which do take off this burden from us. Thus it is indeed, because we judge of all things according to our sense; but if we did let judgement work, then the godly soul would be likewise greatly enlarged for the keeping of evil, as well as removing of it. The evil we never felt, yet because ready to come upon us, had not the mercy of God kept it off, is affectionately taken notice of by that soul, which delights to search out the works of God towards it. The godly ought not be so brutish, as to be taught only by thorns, or to be like the horse which must have always the bit and bridle. Preventing mercy is as real a mercy as a positive one. God is as truly good in keeping of evil from thee, as removing of it: Shall God therefore lose such of his glory and honour, because thou wilt judge only by sense?

Thirdly, Although the godly do thus judge of preventing mercies, as well ¹as of positive mercies, yet because we are apt to account of mercies by sense, and feeling we have, hence it is, That the godly are exceedingly-forgetfull many times about preventing mercies. It is often said, We never prize a mercy till we want it. How precious is health to a diseased man, ease to a tormented man? And so also we never account any evil grievous, but while we feel it, while it is upon our backs; and thereupon we are most sensible of such mercies, which do take off this burden from us. Thus it is indeed, because we judge of all things according to our sense; but if we did let judgement work, then the godly soul would be likewise greatly enlarged for the keeping of evil, as well as removing of it. The evil we never felt, yet because ready to come upon us, had not the mercy of God kept it off, is affectionately taken notice of by that soul, which delights to search out the works of God towards it. The godly ought not be so bruitish, as to be taught only by thorns, or to be like the horse which must have alwayes the bit and bridle. Preventing mercy is as real a mercy as a positive one. God is as truly good in keeping of evil from thee, as removing of it: Shall God therefore lose such of his glory and honour, because thou wilt judge only by sense?