Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity…

Whatsoever God is known by, that is his Name, whatsoever he makes himself more known by that is his special Name, and his Name he will not suffer to be taken in vain, and therefore he saith, he will not hold him guiltless th•• taketh his Name in vain, and certainly this will bring the heaviest, condemnation, the offer of Christ being the greatest mercy that was ever showed to any creature either in Heaven or in earth, and therefore the refusing of this mercy must needs produce the greatest judgement: and for this Capernaum though exalted to Heaven, was cast down to Hell, if it had had no more means th•• Tyre and Zidon their condemnation should have been no more, but the means were greater, because the Gospel was more plentifully preached to them, and therefore seeing by this means they were lifted up to Heaven, their condemnation should be the greater; and this is Gods manner of proceeding in all his ways, when he first created Adam, had he no more then created him, his sin in transgressing the Law had not been so much, but because he gave him a possibility of living for ever, therefore he was condemned to die for ever, because he rejected the mercy offered; If we had been guilty of Adams sin only, we should have had the judgement that Adam had upon breach of the condition. But we are offered Christ, and to be heirs of Heaven upon condition of obedience to the Law of faith, answerable therefore to the greatness of this m••y shall be the greatness of this condemnation if we refuse it. ⟨p. 432⟩Let all these things stir us up most affectionately to embrace Christ, and consider what an injury and offence it is against God to refuse Christ. Remember those compassionate terms that he useth, Come unto me, And why will ye dye O house of Israel?

Whatsoever God is known by, that is his Name, whatsoever he makes himself more known by that is his special Name, and his Name he will not suffer to be taken in vain, and therefore he saith, he will not hold him guiltless th•• taketh his Name in vain, and certainly this will bring the heaviest, condemnation, the offer of Christ being the greatest mercy that was ever shewed to any creature either in Heaven or in earth, and therefore the refusing of this mercy must needs produce the greatest judgement: and for this Capennaum though exalted to Heaven, was cast down to Hell, if it had had no more means th Tyre and Zidon their condemnation should have been no more, but the means were greater, because the Gospel was more plentifully preached to them, and therefore seeing by this means they were lifted up to Heaven, their condemnation should be the greater; and this is Gods manner of proceeding in all his wayes, when he first created Adam, had he no more then created him, his sin in transgressing the Law had not been so much, but because he gave him a possibility of living for eyer, therefore he was condemned to die for ever, because he rejected the mercy offered; If we had been guilty of Adams sin onely, we should have had the judgement that Adam had upon breach of the condition. But we are offered Christ, and to be heirs of Heaven upon condition of obedience to the Law of faith, answerable therefore to the greatness of this my shall be the greatness of this cond emnation if we refuse it.