An exposition with practical observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of…An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of…

But there is a sense in which a wicked man doth not labour in vain, how wicked soever he is. What else means the Prophets invitation (Isa. 55.5.) Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. Let him forsake his ways, and then no matter what his ⟨p. 364⟩ways have been, let him return to the Lord, and then his former departures shall not hinder acceptance. Christ died for the ungodly, Ro. 5.6. & God justifieth the ungodly Ro. 4.5. It is not in vain for an ungodly man to come to God indeed, and when he doth, he ceases to be ungodly. They draw nigh only with their lips, whose hearts are not changed, and they draw nigh in vain. As God hath not said to the seed of Jacob (real Saints) Seek ye me in vain. So he hath not said in vain to wicked men, Seek ye my face. For with the word which bids them seek, he gives them power to seek, and the mercy they seek for. The grace of God prevents us, that we may seek him, and blesses us when we do seek him. If all who are wicked labour in vain, then all had laboured in vain, forasmuch as all were wicked.

But there is a sense in which a wicked man doth not labour in vain, how wicked soever he is. What else means the Prophets invitation (Isa. 55.5.) Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. Let him forsake his waies, and then no matter what his ⟨p. 364⟩waies have been, let him return to the Lord, and then his former departures shall not hinder acceptance. Christ died for the ungodly, Ro. 5.6. & God justifieth the ungodly Ro. 4.5. It is not in vain for an ungodly man to come to God indeed, and when he doth, he ceases to be ungodly. They draw nigh only with their lips, whose hearts are not changed, and they draw nigh in vain. As God hath not said to the seed of Iacob (reall Saints) Seek ye me in vain. So he hath not said in vain to wicked men, Seek ye my face. For with the word which bids them seek, he gives them power to seek, and the mercy they seek for. The grace of God prevents us, that we may seek him, and blesses us when we doe seek him. If all who are wicked labour in vain, then all had laboured in vain, forasmuch as all vvere wicked.