Answ. In answer to this, Brethren, pray consider, that God hath promised Grace to all his Children that fall into Sin, to humble 1them: Repentance is in the Covenant of Grace; a broken and tender Heart he will give them, not only at first when they believe, but afterwards, when through Temptations and humane Frailties they are overtaken and sin against him; 'tis not a Repentance of their own getting, whereby to oblige God to return again to them. But pray see what he says to his beloved Ones, For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth; for the Spirit shall fail before me, and the Souls that I have made. For the Iniquity 2of his Covetousness was I wroth, and smote him; and he went on frowardly in the Way of his Heart. Well, and what will God do with him now, he hath sinned, and that grievously too, and God hath afflicted him as sorely, smote him in his Wrath; or, as a Father seems to do when his Child that hath grievously offended him, but he is not humbled, he repents not, but goes on frowardly under the Rod: shall he perish? stay a little, see what God says, verse 18. I have seen his Ways, and will heal him: although I might justly destroy him, (as if God should say) and leave him to perish, yet of my mere Mercy, and for my own Name sake, I will pity him, I will give him Repentance; I will heal him, he shall mourn for his Sins, and I will restore Comfort to him, and to his Mourners. Alas, till God turn us, we turn not; therefore a godly Man says, with poor Ephraim, Turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the Lord my God. Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after 3that I was instructed, I smote on my Thigh. After God hath graciously touched our Hearts, convinced us of our Sins, or changed our Minds, we repent, and alter our Practices; and God will give Grace thus to do. He remembers his Covenant and his Oath to our David, &c. I create the Fruits of the Lips; Peace, Peace, 4to him that is afar off, and to him that is near, saith the Lord; I will heal him. I will in a wonderful manner, and by my own Grace and Almighty Power, do all, and have all the Praise to my self.
Answ. In answer to this, Brethren, pray consider, that God hath promised Grace to all his Children that fall into Sin, to humble 1them: Repentance is in the Covenant of Grace; a broken and tender Heart he will give them, not only at first when they believe, but afterwards, when through Temptations and humane Frailties they are overtaken and sin against him; 'tis not a Repentance of their own getting, whereby to oblige God to return again to them. But pray see what he says to his beloved Ones, For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth; for the Spirit shall fail before me, and the Souls that I have made. For the Iniquity 2of his Covetousness was I wroth, and smote him; and he went on frowardly in the Way of his Heart. Well, and what will God do with him now, he hath sinned, and that grievously too, and God hath afflicted him as sorely, smote him in his Wrath; or, as a Father seems to do when his Child that hath grievously offended him, but he is not humbled, he repents not, but goes on frowardly under the Rod: shall he perish? stay a little, see what God says, verse 18. I have seen his Ways, and will heal him: although I might justly destroy him, (as if God should say) and leave him to perish, yet of my meer Mercy, and for my own Name sake, I will pity him, I will give him Repentance; I will heal him, he shall mourn for his Sins, and I will restore Comfort to him, and to his Mourners. Alas, till God turn us, we turn not; therefore a godly Man says, with poor Ephraim, Turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the Lord my God. Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after 3that I was instructed, I smote on my Thigh. After God hath graciously touched our Hearts, convinced us of our Sins, or changed our Minds, we repent, and alter our Practices; and God will give Grace thus to do. He remembers his Covenant and his Oath to our David, &c. I create the Fruits of the Lips; Peace, Peace, 4to him that is afar off, and to him that is near, saith the Lord; I will heal him. I will in a wonderful manner, and by my own Grace and Almighty Power, do all, and have all the Praise to my self.
