Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

Let us therefore make this use of his Goodness, to hearten our Faith. When we ⟨p. 680⟩are scared by the terrors of his Justice, when we are dazzled by the arts of his Wisdom, and confounded by the splendour of his Majesty, we may take refuge in the Sanctuary of his Goodness; this will encourage us, as well as astonish us; Whereas the consideration of his other Attributes would only amaze us, but can never refresh us, but when they are considered, marching under the Conduct and Banners of this. When all the other Perfections of the Divine Nature are looked upon in conjunction with this Excellency, each of them send forth ravishing and benign influences upon the applying Creature. 'Tis more advantageous to depend upon Divine Bounty, than our own Cares; We may have better assurance upon this account in his Cares for us, than in ours for our selves. Our goodness for our selves is Finite, and besides we are too ignorant: His goodness is Infinite, and attended with an infinite Wisdom; we have reason to distrust our selves, not God. We have reason to be at rest, under that kind influence we have so often experimented; He hath so much goodness, that he can have no deceit: His goodness in making the Promise, and his goodness in working the heart to a Reliance on it, are grounds of trust in him;^* Remember thy word to thy Servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope. If his Promise did not please him, why did he make it? If Reliance on the Promise, doth not please him, why did his Goodness work it? It would be inconsistent with his Goodness, to mock his Creature, and it would be the highest Mockery to publish his Word, and Create a temper in the heart of his supplicant, suited to his Promise, which he never intended to satisfy. He can as little wrong his Creature, as wrong himself; and therefore can never disappoint that Faith, which in his own methods casts it self into the arms of his Kindness, and is his own Workmanship, and calls him Author. That Goodness that imparted it self so freely in Creation, will not neglect those nobler Creatures that put their trust in him. This renders God a fit Object for trust and confidence.

Let us therefore make this use of his Goodness, to hearten our Faith. When we ⟨p. 680⟩are scar'd by the terrours of his Justice, when we are dazled by the arts of his Wisdom, and confounded by the splendour of his Majesty, we may take refuge in the Sanctuary of his Goodness; this will encourage us, as well as astonish us; Whereas the consideration of his other Attributes would only amaze us, but can never refresh us, but when they are consider'd, marching under the Conduct and Banners of this. When all the other Perfections of the Divine Nature are lookt upon in conjunction with this Excellency, each of them send forth ravishing and benign influences upon the applying Creature. 'Tis more advantageous to depend upon Divine Bounty, than our own Cares; We may have better assurance upon this account in his Cares for us, than in ours for our selves. Our goodness for our selves is Finite, and besides we are too ignorant: His goodness is Infinite, and attended with an infinite Wisdom; we have reason to distrust our selves, not God. We have reason to be at rest, under that kind influence we have so often experimented; He hath so much goodness, that he can have no deceit: His goodness in making the Promise, and his goodness in working the heart to a Reliance on it, are grounds of trust in him;