Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

2. How readily doth he receive Men, when they do return? We have Davids Experience for it;^† I said, I will confess my Transgressions unto the Lord, and thou forgavest the iniquity of my Sin, Selah. A sincere look from the Creature draws out his Arms, and opens his Bosom; he is ready with his Physic to heal us, upon a resolution to acquaint him with our Disease, and by his Medicines prevents the putting our Resolution into a Petition. The Psalmist adds a Selah to it, as a special Note of Thankfulness for Divine Goodness. He doth not only stand ready to receive our Petitions, while we are speaking, but answers us before we call; ^*listening to the Motions of our Hearts, as well as to the supplications of our Lips: He is the true Father, that hath a quicker pace in meeting, than the Prodigal hath in returning; Who would not have his Embraces and Caresses interrupted by his Confession;^† The Confession follows, doth not precede the Fathers Compassion. How doth he rejoice in having an opportunity to express his Grace, when he hath prevailed with a Rebel to throw down his Arms and lie at his Feet; and this because he delights in Mercy? ^*He delights in the Expressions of it from himself, and the acceptance of it by his Creature.

2. How readily doth he receive Men, when they do return? We have Davids Experience for it;^† I said, I will confess my Transgressions unto the Lord, and thou forgavest the iniquity of my Sin, Selah. A sincere look from the Creature draws out his Arms, and opens his Bosom; he is ready with his Physick to heal us, upon a resolution to acquaint him with our Disease, and by his Medicines prevents the putting our Resolution into a Petition. The Psalmist adds a Selah to it, as a special Note of Thankfulness for Divine Goodness. He doth not only stand ready to receive our Petitions, while we are speaking, but answers us before we call; ^*