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…

Thirdly, Unbelief springs from the same muddy fountain: unbelief of the power of God to deliver us, when we are in outward straits and dangers; and unbelief of the mercy of God to pardon us, when we are in spiritual straits and desertions. What's the reason why, when great dangers encompass us, we cannot believe deliverance? Do we not make God like to our selves? Do we not shorten his hand to our own measure, and think it cannot be done, because men cannot do it? And for mercy about the pardon of sin; man being awakened sees how he hath provoked God, sin stares upon his face, and he finds out many aggravations upon his sin: then he begins to collect thus, certainly if a man had so provoked his neighbour, he could never pardon or forgive him; Can then such sins as these be forgiven by God? Mans mercy cannot reach so high as this, therefore surely the mercies of God will not. We have a very gracious promise, backed with a caution to prevent these jealousies (Isa. 55.6, 7.) Let the wicked for sake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, ⟨p. 379⟩and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. Now, as when God calls upon man to obey his will, and do his Commandments, he is apt to say, at least in his heart, the duties are too many, and the burdens too great to be born: So when the Lord calleth upon wicked men, the worst of wicked men to repent or turn unto him, and he vvill abundantly pardon, or he will multiply to pardon (as it is in the original) they are ready to object, What? Pardon such as we are? We are too filthy and vile for washing. Surely, he vvill not pardon us. These mercies are too many for us, and these favours too great for us to receive. Well (saith God) I preconceive your conceits of me, ye are measuring me by your selves, ye think it cannot be done, because ye cannot do it; your hearts are too narrow to pass by so many, so great provocations, therefore ye say, mine is too narrow also. Do ye thus measure me the Lord, O foolish people and unwise? I would have you know, My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, for as the heavens are higher then the earth, so are my ways higher then your ways, and my thoughts then your thoughts, vers 8, 9. As if he had said, Your thoughts are as much below my mercy, as your ways were below my holiness.

Thirdly, Unbelief springs from the same muddy fountain: unbelief of the power of God to deliver us, when we are in outward straits and dangers; and unbelief of the mercy of God to pardon us, when we are in spirituall straits and desertions. What's the reason why, vvhen great dangers encompasse us, we cannot believe deliverance? Doe vve not make God like to our selves? Doe we not shorten his hand to our own measure, and thinke it cannot be done, because men cannot doe it? And for mercy about the pardon of sin; man being awakened sees how he hath provoked God, sin stares upon his face, and he findes out many aggravations upon his sin: then he begins to collect thus, certainly if a man had so provoked his neighbour, he could never pardon or forgive him; Can then such sins as these be forgiven by God? Mans mercy cannot reach so high as this, therefore surely the mercies of God will not. We have a very gracious promise, backt with a caution to prevent these jealousies (