The real Christian, or, A treatise of effectual calling wherein the work of God…

Faith, Repentance Obedience be my Acts. But to bring in this as a duty in my first closing with Christ, that I set up this end, (manifestation of his Grace) above my salvation, I cannot find this in Scripture. The first Agent looks to, and takes care for his end. There are several persons have conspired to take away the Kings life, their treason is discovered; the King is willing and resolves to make manifestation of his clemency and mercy; upon the Traitors petitioning to him, promising loyalty to him for the future, he freely pardons them; in pardoning of them, he doth clearly manifest his clemency and mercy: all men know (as they could say of the Kings of Israel) and say, the King is a merciful King; he bears ⟨p. 223⟩the glory of it; the pardoning of the Traitors is a means to his end: it was the King ordered the means, though he did not put in this clause, See that you exalt my mercy above your life: His end did not depend upon this, whether they did exalt his mercy above their lives? (Alas poor men, their lives are dear to them, and they do exalt his clemency) No he hath his end, all the Kingdom bears him witness, and other Nations by him, that he is an exceeding merciful King, and deserves praise. So it is here, the attaining of Gods end doth not depend upon this, that I ser up the glory of his Grace above my salvation; for he hath his end in saving; heaven, earth, and hell must all confess, as doth the saved Soul, the pardoned Traitor, cry out, O the depth of the riches of the Grace and Mercy of this God: but for the word, Above, I let that alone and not mind it.

Faith, Repentance Obedience be my Acts. But to bring in this as a duty in my first closing with Christ, that I set up this end, (manifestation of his Grace) above my salvation, I cannot find this in Scripture. The first Agent looks to, and takes care for his end. There are several persons have conspired to take away the Kings life, their treason is discovered; the King is willing and resolves to make manifestation of his clemency and mercy; upon the Traytors petitioning to him, promising loyalty to him for the future, he freely pardons them; in pardoning of them, he doth clearly manifest his clemency and mercy: all men know (as they could say of the Kings of Israel) and say, the King is a merciful King; he bears ⟨p. 223⟩the glory of it; the pardoning of the Traytors is a means to his end: it was the King ordered the means, though he did not put in this clause, See that you exalt my mercy above your life: His end did not depend upon this, whether they did exalt his mercy above their lives? (Alas poor men, their lives are dear to them, and they do exalt his clemency) No he hath his end, all the Kingdom bears him witness, and other Nations by him, that he is an exceeding merciful King, and deserves praise. So it is here, the attaining of Gods end doth not depend upon this, that I ser up the glory of his Grace above my salvation; for he hath his end in saving; heaven, earth, and hell must all confess, as doth the saved Soul, the pardoned Traytour, cry out, O the depth of the riches of the Grace and Mercy of this God: but for the word, Above, I let that alone and not mind it.