Secondly, I would advise poor trembling Souls, that are alarmed by their own fears, which represent God as an Enemy, and standing at a distance from them; that they would study the Name of God: For surely things are known by their Names, and poor disconsolate Souls are bidden, Isa. 50.10. To trust in the Name of the Lord, &c. Now what is the Name of God? Even that which he proclaimed, Exod. 34.5, 6, 7. I am the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering and abundant in Goodness and Truth; keeping Mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin. Therefore take all his Name, and meditate upon it. Satan laboureth to represent God by halves, only as a consuming Fire, as clothed with Justice and Vengeance. Oh no! 'tis true, he will not suffer his Mercy to be abused by contemptuous Sinners, he will not clear the guilty, though he waiteth long on them before he destroyeth them; but the main of his Name, is his Mercy and Goodness. Take it as God proclaimeth it, and see if you have any reason to have hard thoughts of God; you will find, that though he be an high and holy one, yet he is willing to be treated with: That he is great, but yet good, ready to receive returning Sinners: if thou hast sin and misery, Christ hath Compassion and Pity, he is the Father of Mercies, 2 Cor. 1.3. Misericors est, cui alterius miseria cordi est: Mercy hath its name from Misery, and is no other thing than laying another's misery to heart, not to despise it, nor to add to it, but to help it: And therefore if thou be miserable, and knowest it indeed, his Nature giveth a strong inclination to succour the miserable. I, but saith the convinced Soul, there is nothing in me to be regarded; the Lord telleth, I am gracious; and Grace doth all freely, and from a self-inclination; it giveth all the Qualifications he requireth; but I have been long a presumptuous Sinner. Why, God telleth you, his Name is long-suffering: He that gave not the Angels one hours space for Repentance, hath long delayed the Execution of our Sentence, and calleth us to himself, that we may escape the Condemnation of Angels. But I am exceeding perverse and wicked: The Lord telleth you, He is abundant in Goodness. I am full of fears and doubtings: Still he is abundant in goodness and Truth. I have abused much Mercy, and can Mercy pity me?
Secondly, I would advise poor trembling Souls, that are alarmed by their own fears, which represent God as an Enemy, and standing at a distance from them; that they would study the Name of God: For surely things are known by their Names, and poor disconsolate Souls are bidden, Isa. 50.10. To trust in the Name of the Lord, &c. Now what is the Name of God? Even that which he proclaimed, Exod. 34.5, 6, 7. I am the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering and abundant in Goodness and Truth; keeping Mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin. Therefore take all his Name, and meditate upon it. Satan laboureth to represent God by halfs, only as a consuming Fire, as cloathed with Justice and Vengeance. Oh no! 'tis true, he will not suffer his Mercy to be abused by contemptuous Sinners, he will not clear the guilty, though he waiteth long on them before he destroyeth them; but the main of his Name, is his Mercy and Goodness. Take it as God proclaimeth it, and see if you have any reason to have hard thoughts of God; you will find, that though he be an high and holy one, yet he is willing to be treated with: That he is great, but yet good, ready to receive returning Sinners: if thou hast sin and misery, Christ hath Compassion and Pity, he is the Father of Mercies, 2 Cor. 1.3. Misericors est, cui alterius miseria cordi est: Mercy hath its name from Misery, and is no other thing than laying anothers misery to heart, not to despise it, nor to add to it, but to help it: And therefore if thou be miserable, and knowest it indeed, his Nature giveth a strong inclination to succour the miserable. I, but saith the convinced Soul, there is nothing in me to be regarded; the Lord telleth, I am gracious; and Grace doth all freely, and from a self-inclination; it giveth all the Qualifications he requireth; but I have been long a presumptuous Sinner. Why, God telleth you, his Name is long-suffering: He that gave not the Angels one hours space for Repentance, hath long delayed the Execution of our Sentence, and calleth us to himself, that we may escape the Condemnation of Angels. But I am exceeding perverse and wicked: The Lord telleth you, He is abundant in Goodness. I am full of fears and doubtings: Still he is abundant in goodness and Truth. I have abused much Mercy, and can Mercy pity me?
