CXLV expository sermons upon the whole 17th chapter of the Gospel according to St.…

Reasons. 1 1. From the Original of it; It's only the mere pleasure of his will: If it be asked why hath God mercy on this or that man so as to make him happy to all Eternity, the answer is, So is the will of God, Eph. 1. Rom. 9. You see there all is resolved into this, The counsel of his will: and Mat. 11. Even so Father, for so it pleaseth thee: Hence Rom. 9. It's not of him that willeth or runneth, but of him that showeth mercy; Those therefore that find the certain effects of this ancient and unchangeable love of God, with what praise and glory are they to break out unto God, if they had not only the tongues but the hearts of men and Angels, they were not sufficient for this work to glorify God, for what is a drop to the Ocean, a spark to the fire, a stone to the Mountain, a candle to the Sun: Hence it is for this use that it's necessary, as the Apostle doth often to inform the Children of God concerning their Election, because that is the first round in that Ladder of Gods mercies descending upon us: Oh then be thou astonished at this goodness of God, it lay in his will to refuse thee and take another; There was nothing but his mere Sovereignty and absolute good counsel hath made thee a fit vessel for glory, and left others as vessels of wrath by their own voluntary Apostasy in Adam; Oh say in thy Meditation, O Lord I am silenced, I can go no further, the waters overflow me.

Reasons. 1 1. From the Original of it; It's only the meer pleasure of his will: If it be asked why hath God mercy on this or that man so as to make him happy to all Eternity, the answer is, So is the will of God, Eph. 1. Rom. 9. You see there all is resolved into this, The counsell of his will: and Mat. 11. Even so Father, for so it pleaseth thee: Hence Rom. 9. It's not of him that willeth or runneth, but of him that sheweth mercy; Those therefore that finde the certain effects of this ancient and unchangeable love of God, with what praise and glory are they to break out unto God, if they had not only the tongues but the hearts of men and Angels, they were not sufficient for this work to glorifie God, for what is a drop to the Ocean, a spark to the fire, a stone to the Moutain, a candle to the Sunne: Hence it is for this use that it's necessary, as the Apostle doth often to inform the Children of God concerning their Election, because that is the first round in that Ladder of Gods mercies descending upon us: Oh then be thou astonished at this goodnesse of God, it lay in his will to refuse thee and take another; There was nothing but his meer Soveraignty and absolute good counsell hath made thee a fit vessell for glory, and left others as vessels of wrath by their own voluntary Apostacy in Adam; Oh say in thy Meditation, O Lord I am silenced, I can go no further, the waters overflow me.