Suppose two were fallen out one with the other, but now when both sides are wrought upon, and one, he professes himself not only willing, but earnestly desirous to be reconciled ⟨p. 372⟩and the other he comes, and expresses himself so too, surely both these will agree. Now it is true many times between man and man, their expressions are but very slight, and there is not that at the bottom of their hearts that they express with their mouths. When two are fallen out, and one comes to them, and saith, why, will you not be at peace with such a man? Oh! yes saith he I am willing. So, come to the other, and he says the same, he is willing; and yet their hearts are not right (perhaps) one to the other. But now in this case between God and thy poor soul, be confident that on Gods side, it is most real, and do thou but make it out that thy heart is real in desiring after peace with God, and fully understand what thou dost when thou dost desire peace with God, [So] that thou wilt not be at peace with any sin, and desire it fully and then when thou shalt get it, then thy heart shall be praising God, and say, I shall live to the praise of God for ever; and that shall be my endeavour. I would fain have at, but will God be at peace? Yes, God shall get as much as thou shalt by it, he shall thereby get that that he did especially intend and aim at in making the world. The great design that God had in making the world was to magnify the riches of his mercy, and if thou beest one that God hath fastened upon to show the riches of his mercy, and Grace, he shall get that Glory thereby to his name, that he did most intend when he made the world. Therefore, though thy soul be precious unto thee, know that Gods Glory is more precious unto him than thy soul can be to thee, therefore God is more desirous of thy life (with those that shall be saved hereafter) than they can be desirous to be saved themselves; this is a certain truth, because that God shall get more by the salvation of that soul than the soul shall get. You get something, but God gets much more; now then if God be seeking after that that doth so much concern you, ⟨p. 373⟩and you know this day that Gods heart is more strongly set upon it than yours, one would think that this should be a mighty encouragement for any sinner to come in to be reconciled.
Suppose two were fallen out one with the other, but now when both sides are wrought upon, and one, he professes himself not only willing, but earnestly desirous to be reconciled ⟨p. 372⟩and the other he comes, and expresses himself so too, surely both these wil agree. Now it is true many times between man and man, their expressions are but very slight, and there is not that at the bottom of their hearts that they express with their mouthes. When two are fallen out, and one comes to them, and saith, why, wil you not be at peace with such a man? Oh! yes saith he I am willing. So, come to the other, and he saies the same, he is willing; and yet their hearts are not right (perhapps) one to the other. But now in this case between God and thy poor soul, be confident that on Gods side, it is most real, and do thou but make it out that thy heart is real in desiring after peace with God, and fully understand what thou dost when thou dost desire peace with God, [So] that thou wilt not be at peace with any sin, and desire it fully and then when thou shalt get it, then thy heart shal be praising God, and say, I shal live to the praise of God for ever; and that shal be my endeavor. I would faine have at, but wil God be at peace? Yes, God shal get as much as thou shalt by it, he shal thereby get that that he did especially intend and aime at in making the world. The great designe that God had in making the world was to magnify the riches of his mercy, and if thou beest one that God hath fastned upon to shew the riches of his mercy, and Grace, he shal get that Glory thereby to his name, that he did most intend when he made the world. Therefore, though thy soul be pretious unto thee, know that Gods Glory is more pretious unto him than thy soul can be to thee, therefore God is more desirous of thy life (with those that shal be saved hereafter) than they can be desirous to be saved themselves; this is a certaine truth, because that God shal get more by the salvation of that soul than the soul shal get. You get something, but God gets much more; now then if God be seeking after that that doth so much concern you, ⟨p. 373⟩and you know this day that Gods heart is more strongly set uppn it than yours, one would think that this should be a mighty encouragement for any sinner to come in to be rconciled.
