1. There are common mercies, and there are special mercies. Common mercies are those the whole world is full of; He maketh the Sun to shine upon the good and the bad. Therefore our Saviour presseth us, To love our enemies, because God is thus merciful even to his enemies; Is not the whole earth, every Village, every Town full of the common mercies of God? How come so many to live, to subsist upon his cost and charges? Whence is it that all the people in the world are provided for? Is it not from the mercy of God? Lam. 3. 22. It's the Lords mercies that we are not consumed; That famine, war, plague and other judgements, do not sweep away all the inhabitants of the earth; That the whole world doth not fall into ruins; This is from Gods mere mercy. That all are not roaring in hell, it's the mercy of God. Now this common mercy is the more admirable, if ye consider what kind of persons they are to whom he is thus merciful, even to his very enemies, that hate God; and if it lay in their power, would destroy him, that he should not have a being. Oh the mercy of God that is continued to many a profane beast, and many a malicious Devil, to what is good! Why is it that every liar is not stricken dead with Ananias? Why is it that every drunkard quaffing in his pots, doth not see a terrible hand-writing in the wall against him? Why is it that the earth doth not open to swallow thee up, while thy mouth is full of cursing and swearing? Is not all this from the mercy of God? Oh how little doth this mercy of God lead you to repentance, whereas it is vouchsafed to you for that end! Let it not be despised, because it is common. For though God be thus often merciful, yet sometimes his judgements are terrible to profane men: They are suddenly destroyed, while they are in their drunken fits, and it is Gods mercy that what hath befallen others doth not also come upon thee; but after thy impenitent heart, Thou treasurest up wrath against the day of wrath; Now is the day of mercy, but then will be a day of wrath. There are special mercies, such as the godly are only partakers of, To be called, to be justified, to be sanctified, &c. Oh what heart or tongue can express the happiness of those, who have these mercies!
1. There are common mercies, and there are special mercies. Common mercies are those the whole world is full of; He maketh the Sunne to shine upon the good and the bad. Therefore our Saviour presseth us, To love our enemies, because God is thus mercifull even to his enemies; Is not the whole earth, every Village, every Town full of the common mercies of God? How come so many to live, to subsist upon his cost and charges? Whence is it that all the people in the world are provided for? Is it not from the mercy of God? Lam. 3. 22. It's the Lords mercies that we are not consumed; That famine, warre, plague and other judgements, do not sweep away all the inhabitants of the earth; That the whole world doth not fall into ruines; This is from Gods meer mercy. That all are not roaring in hell, it's the mercy of God. Now this common mercy is the more admirable, if ye consider what kind of persons they are to whom he is thus mercifull, even to his very enemies, that hate God; and if it lay in their power, would destroy him, that he should not have a being. Oh the mercy of God that is continued to many a prophane beast, and many a malicious Devil, to what is good! Why is it that every liar is not stricken dead with Ananias? Why is it that every drunkard quaffing in his pots, doth not see a terrible hand-writing in the wall against him? Why is it that the earth doth not open to swallow thee up, while thy mouth is full of cursing and swearing? Is not all this from the mercy of God? Oh how little doth this mercy of God lead you to repentance, whereas it is vouchsafed to you for that end! Let it not be despised, because it is common. For though God be thus often mercifull, yet sometimes his judgements are terrible to prophane men: They are suddenly destroyed, while they are in their drunken fits, and it is Gods mercy that what hath befallen others doth not also come upon thee; but after thy impenitent heart, Thou treasurest up wrath against the day of wrath; Now is the day of mercy, but then will be a day of wrath. There are special mercies, such as the godly are only partakers of, To be called, to be justified, to be sanctified, &c. Oh what heart or tongue can express the happiness of those, who have these mercies!
