Sermons preached

(2.) In the persuasive and moral Way, the Wisdom of ⟨p. 153⟩God is seen, as taking the most likely Course to gain the Heart of Man, discovering Himself to us, as a God of Love, Kindness, and Mercy. Guilty Creatures stand aloof from a condemning God; our Fear of his Justice maketh us run from him. Gen. 3. 7, 10. Adam hid himself from the presence of the Lord. So all his Posterity forsake God, and hate him. But God, though the Superior, though the wronged Party, maketh Offers of Peace, and showeth how willing he is to be reconciled to us. Having first laid the Foundation in the highest Demonstration of Goodness, that ever could come to the Ears of Man to hear of, or enter into the Heart of Man to conceive; namely, in giving his Son to die for a sinful World, 2 Cor. 5. 19, 20. What more apt to make Man relent? And then because Man had fallen from the Love of God to the Creature, Jer. 2. 3. What Wisdom doth God show, not only in the Offers of Pardon, but Eternal Life, and Blessedness, infinitely beyond the false Happiness which carnal Self-Love inclineth us to? that it is a Shame and Disgrace to our Reason, to think these things are worthy to be compared together. What are all the Pleasures, Profits, and Honours we dote upon, to the Pleasures at God's right-Hand? the Riches of the Inheritance of the Saints, and the Glory which cometh from God. And therefore what more powerful Motive can be produced, than this Blessed Immortality? Indeed God is invisible, and the Glory is to come; and sensual Pleasures are at hand, ready to be enjoyed. But Faith checketh Sense; Heb. 11. 1. Faith is the Evidence of Things not seen. O the Wisdom of God in the Frame of the Gospel!

(2.) In the perswasive and moral Way, the Wisdom of ⟨p. 153⟩God is seen, as taking the most likely Course to gain the Heart of Man, discovering Himself to us, as a God of Love, Kindness, and Mercy. Guilty Creatures stand aloof from a condemning God; our Fear of his Justice maketh us run from him.