1. The manner of its discovery; this indeed is evident to all that God doth not ordinarily, immediately punish men upon their offences; It may be learned from his constant way in governing the World; Notwithstanding all provocations; yet he doth ngood to men, causing his Sun to shine upon them, sending them rain and fruitful seasons, filling their hearts with food and gladness. Whence it was easy for them to conclude, that there was in him abundance of goodness and forbearance, but all ⟨p. 95⟩this is yet in much darkness, being the exurgency of mens reasonings from their observations; yea the management of it hath been such, as that it hath proved a snare almost universally unto them towards whom it hath been exercised: Eccles. 8. 11. as well as a Temptation to them who have looked on, Job. 21 7. Psal: 73. 2, 3, 4, &c. Jerem. 12. 1. Hab. 1. 13. The discovery of it in Christ, is utterly of another nature. In him the very Nature of God is discovered to be Love and kindness, and that he will exercise the same to sinners, he hath promised, sworn, and solemnly engaged himself by Covenant. And that we may not hesitate about the aim which he hath herein, there is a stable bottom and foundation of acting suitably to those gracious properties of his nature, held forth: viz. the Reconciliation and Atonement that is made in the blood of Christ. What ever discovery were made of the patience and Lenity of God unto us, yet if it were not withal revealed, that the other Properties of God, as his Justice and Revenge for sin, had their actings also assigned to them to the full, there could be little consolation gathered from the former. And therefore though God may teach men his Goodness and forbearance, by sending them rain and fruitful seasons, yet withal at the same time upon all occasions revealing his wrath from Heaven against the ungodliness of men, (Rom. 1. 18.) It is impossible that they should do any thing, but miserably fluctuate and tremble at the event of these dispensations: And yet this is the best that men can have out of Christ, the utmost they can attain unto: With the present possession of good things administered in this patience, men might and did for a season take up their thoughts, and satiate themselves; but yet they were not in the least delivered from the obondage they were in by reason of death, and the darkness attending it.
1. The manner of its discovery; this indeed is evident to all that God doth not ordinarily, immediatly punish men upon their offences; It may be learn'd from his constant way in governing the World; Notwithstanding all provocations; yet he doth ngood to men, causing his Sunne to shine upon them, sending them raine and fruitfull seasons, filling their hearts with food and gladnesse. Whence it was easy for them to conclude, that there was in him abundance of goodnesse and forbearance, but all ⟨p. 95⟩this is yet in much darknesse, being the exurgency of mens reasonings from their observations; yea the mannagement of it hath been such, as that it hath proved a snare allmost universally unto them towards whom it hath been exercised: Eccles. 8. 11. as well as a Temptation to them who have looked on, Job. 21 7. Psal: 73. 2, 3, 4, &c. Jerem. 12. 1. Hab. 1. 13. The discovery of it in Christ, is utterly of another nature. In him the very Nature of God is discovered to be Love and kindnesse, and that he will exercise the same to sinners, he hath promised, sworne, and solemnly ingaged himselfe by Covenant. And that we may not hesitate about the ayme which he hath herein, there is a stable bottome and foundation of acting sutably to those gracious properties of his nature, held forth: viz. the Reconciliation and Attonement that is made in the blood of Christ. What ever discovery were made of the patience and Lenity of God unto us, yet if it were not withall revealed, that the other Properties of God, as his Justice and Revenge for sinne, had their actings also assigned to them to the full, there could be little consolation gathered from the former. And therefore though God may teach men his Goodnesse and forbearance, by sending them raine and fruitfull seasons, yet withall at the same time upon all occasions revealing his wrath from Heaven against the ungodlinesse of men, (Rom. 1. 18.) It is impossible that they should doe any thing, but miserably fluctuate and tremble at the event of these dispensations: And yet this is the best that men can have out of Christ, the utmost they can attaine unto: With the present possession of good things administred in this patience, men might and did for a season take up their thoughts, and satiate themselves; but yet they were not in the least delivered from the
- nMat. 5. 45. Act. 14. 17, 18.
- oAnimula vagula blandula Hospes comesque corporis. Quae nunc abibis in loca Pallida, rigida, nudula? Nec ut soles dabis jocos. Had. Imp.
