Answ. It is not to make use of them, therefore when you ⟨p. 5⟩1hear of this abundance of mercy that is in God, if you do not make use of it, and earnestly lay hold upon it, so as to improve it for your own advantage, you take the grace of God in vain; Consider therefore what you have, and what you do, when you make no use of these mercies, how you have his riches laid before you, without any particular advantage by them; Consider what there is in God, that he is abundant, in mercy, not to know it is to take his name in vain, in frustrating the end of their manifestation, it is a treasure, it may be, that you think not of, you know not, it may be, what it is to have a merciful God, therefore consider what God is, consider the largeness of his power, and the greatness of his wisdom, and the riches of his mercy, Consider that he is your portion, that he is your husband, and this is required of you to make use of him to the uttermost. What a comfortable life might Christians live, if they would do thy? What do you vexing and perplexing your selves a bout trifles? Is it for you to take care for matters belonging to your credit and preferment, and for other things of this life with that perplexity and solicitude? The better way is to know God in the greatness of his mercy, and to make use of him. Shall one have a rich father and make no use of him? Shall one be a favourite to a prince and not make some use of it for his one advantage? In these things not to do it you reckon it a point of carnal folly, I am sure it is a great want of spiritual wisdom not to make use of God, specially when not only you may do it, but when it is a sin if you do it not; for indeed it is for your masters credit as well as for your own comfort, and therefore the Lord will be angry when you do it not. When he looks into the world, and seeth such a servant standing ragged poor and hungry, he speaks angerly to him, why stand you here ragged and poor? Am not I rich in mercy? May you not go in and take changes of raiment and clothe your selves from top to toe? Therefore (my br•••••) be exhorted to make this use of the riches ⟨p. 6⟩of Gods mercies, take an exceeding great portion of them, let them not be in vain to you, fill your souls, and your bodies too, take enough for the present, and lay it up for the future.
Answ. It is not to make use of them, therefore when you ⟨p. 5⟩1hear of this abundance of mercy that is in God, if you do not make use of it, and earnestly lay hold upon it, so as to improve it for your own advantage, you take the grace of God in vain; Consider therefore what you have, and what you do, when you make no use of these mercies, how you have his riches layed before you, without any particular advantage by them; Consider what there is in God, that he is abundant, in mercy, not to know it is to take his name in vain, in frustrating the end of their manifestation, it is a treasure, it may be, that you think not of, you know not, it may be, what it is to have a mercifull God, therefore consider what God is, consider the largeness of his power, and the greatness of his wisdom, and the riches of his mercy, Consider that he is your portion, that he is your husband, and this is required of you to make use of him to the uttermost. What a comfortable life might Christans live, if they would do thi? What do you vexing and perplexing your selves a bout triffl•s? Is it for you to take care for matters belonging to your credit and preferment, and for other things of this life with that perplexitie and sollicitude? The better way is to know God in the greatness of his mercy, and to make use of him. Shall one have a rich father and make no use of him? Shall one be a favorite to a prince and not make some use of it for his one advantage? In these things not to do it you reckon it a point of carnall follie, I am sure it is a great want of spiritual wisdome not to make use of God, specially when not onely you may do it, but when it is a sin if you do it not; for indeed it is for your masters credit as well as for your own comfort, and therefore the Lord will be angry when you do it not. When he looks into the world, and seeth such a servant standing ragged poor and hungrie, he speak•s angerly to him, why stand you here ragged and poor? Am not I rich in mercy? May you not go in and take changes of raiment and cloath your selyes from top to toe? Therefore (my br•••••) be exhorted to make this use of the riches ⟨p. 6⟩of Gods mercies, take an exceeding great portion of them, let them not be in vain to you, fill your souls, and your bodies too, take enough for the present, and lay it up for the future.
- 1Quest. Answ.
