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…

Secondly, He must not only be sensible of his unworthiness, who would affectionately bless God at all times, but he must also consider what wrath and vengeance he doth deserve. Oh this would be like fire in thy bosom! This would quickly cast out all those troublesome and disquiet thoughts: What, Oh my soul, art thou disquieted for want of this or that! What is thy own, but hell and eternal torment? Are any soul-mercies, are any body-mercies thy own? Canst thou claim a right to them? No, the Law curseth thee, because thou doest not continue in all things commanded; so that thou mayest be cursed in soul, in body, at home and abroad. Nothing but temporal, spiritual and eternal curses might compass thee about. Now then, if when God might thus curse, and damn thee, he doth bless and pardon thee; What joyful songs should this fill thy heart, and mouth with? I have deserved death, but behold life: my merit is hell and damnation, but the gift of God is grace and peace. As a malefactor, when thou mightst justly expect punishment, behold God doth to thee as to Joseph, who under expectation of punishment is raised up to the highest honour in the Kings Court. Oh then, awe thy soul, saying, Why am I so foolish and bru•••sh? I am not in hell, I am not howling in those eternal flames, which I might not be kept a moment from; and yet how impatient and unquiet is my heart? A full persuasion then of what we deserve, will provoke the soul to a cordial blessing of God for every mercy.

Secondly, He must not only be sensible of his unworthiness, who would affectionately bless God at all times, but he must also consider what wrath and vengeance he doth deserve. Oh this would be like fire in thy bosom! This would quickly cast out all those troublesom and disquiet thoughts: What, Oh my soul, art thou disquieted for want of this or that! What is thy own, but hell and eternal torment? Are any soul-mercies, are any body-mercies thy own? Canst thou claim a right to them? No, the Law curseth thee, because thou doest not continue in all things commanded; so that thou mayest be cursed in soul, in body, at home and abroad. Nothing but temporal, spiritual and eternal curses might compass thee about. Now then, if when God might thus curse, and damn thee, he doth bless and pardon thee; What joyfull songs should this fill thy heart, and mouth with? I have deserved death, but behold life: my merit is hell and damnation, but the gift of God is grace and peace. As a malefactor, when thou mightst justly expect punishment, behold God doth to thee as to Joseph, who under expectation of punishment is raised up to the highest honour in the Kings Court. Oh then, awe thy soul, saying, Why am I so foolish and brush? I am not in hell, I am not howling in those eternal flames, which I might not be kept a moment from; and yet how impatient and unquiet is my heart? A full perswasion then of what we deserve, will provoke the soul to a cordial blessing of God for every mercy.