But surely this is no encouragement to neglect the present seasons of mercy, because God may show mercy hereafter. To neglect the ordinary, because God sometimes manifests his grace in ways extraordinary. Many I know have hardened themselves in ways of sin by this example of mercy. But what God did at this time, for this man, cannot be expected to be done ordinarily for us. And the reasons thereof are,
⟨p. 443⟩Reason 1. First, Because God hath vouchsafed us the ordinary and standing means of grace, which he had not; and therefore we cannot expect such extraordinary and unusual conversions as he had. This poor creature never heard in all likelihood one Sermon preached by Christ, or any of the Apostles. He lived the life of a Highway man, and concerned not himself about Religion; but we have Christ preached freely and constantly in our Assemblies. We have line upon line, and precept upon precept. And when God affords the ordinary preaching of the Gospel, he doth not use to work wonders. When Israel was in the Wilderness, then God baked their bread in Heaven, and clave the Rocks to give them drink; but when they came to Canaan, where they had the ordinary means of subsistence, the manna ceased.
Reason 2. Secondly, Such a conversion as this may not be ordinarily expected by any man, because such a time as that will never come again. It's possible if Christ were to die again, and thou to be crucified with him, thou mightest receive thy conversion in such a miraculous and extraordinary way: but Christ dies no more. Such a day as that will never come again.
Mr. Fenner in his excellent discourse upon this point, tells us that as this was an extraordinary time, Christ being now to be installed in his Kingdom, and Crowned with glory and honour: so extraordinary things were now done; as when Kings are Crowned; the Streets are richly hanged; the Conduits run with wine; great Malefactors are then pardoned; for then they show their munificence and bounty; it is the day of the gladness of their hearts. But let a man come at another time to the Conduits, he shall find no wine, but ordinary water there. Let a man be in the Goal at another time, and he may be hanged; yea, and hath no reason but to expect and prepare for it. What Christ did now for this man, was at an extraordinary time.
Reason 3.
But surely this is no encouragement to neglect the present seasons of mercy, because God may shew mercy hereafter. To neglect the ordinary, because God sometimes manifests his grace in ways extraordinary. Many I know have hardened themselves in ways of sin by this example of mercy. But what God did at this time, for this man, cannot be expected to be done ordinarily for us. And the reasons thereof are,
⟨p. 443⟩Reason 1. First, Because God hath vouchsafed us the ordinary and standing means of grace, which he had not; and therefore we cannot expect such extraordinary and unusual conversions as he had. This poor creature never heard in all likelihood one Sermon preached by Christ, or any of the Apostles. He lived the life of a Highway man, and concerned not himself about Religion; but we have Christ preached freely and constantly in our Assemblies. We have line upon line, and precept upon precept. And when God affords the ordinary preaching of the Gospel, he doth not use to work wonders. When Israel was in the Wilderness, then God baked their bread in Heaven, and clave the Rocks to give them drink; but when they came to Canaan, where they had the ordinary means of subsistance, the manna ceased.
Reason 2. Secondly, Such a conversion as this may not be ordinarily expected by any man, because such a time as that will never come again. It's possible if Christ were to die again, and thou to be crucified with him, thou mightest receive thy conversion in such a miraculous and extraordinary way: but Christ dies no more. Such a day as that will never come again.
Mr. Fenner in his excellent discourse upon this point, tells us that as this was an extraordinary time, Christ being now to be installed in his Kingdom, and Crowned with glory and honour: so extraordinary things were now done; as when Kings are Crowned; the Streets are richly hanged; the Conduits run with wine; great Malefactors are then pardoned; for then they shew their munificence and bounty; it is the day of the gladness of their hearts. But let a man come at another time to the Conduits, he shall find no wine, but ordinary water there. Let a man be in the Goal at another time, and he may be hanged; yea, and hath no reason but to expect and prepare for it. What Christ did now for this man, was at an extraordinary time.
Reason 3.
