A55752:54
Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity…
Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity and duty of Gods children by the late Reverend and Faithful Minister of Jesus Christ, John Preston ...Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity and duty of Gods children by the late Reverend and Faithfull Minister of Jesus Christ, John Preston ...
London: printed by J.T., 1658
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Suppose a great man that hath provided a feast, a costly 1and sumptuous feast, he hath made all ready, when all is done his guests that were invited come not, will it not trouble him exceedingly? Certainly the Lord is angry when you are all invited to a rich feast, and yet you will not come. You know the parable in the Gospel, how he was angry with those that were invited and came not, because his mercy was in vain: now when you shall hear that there are riches of mercy in God, if you make no use of it, it is in vain to you, and to take the riches of Gods mercy in vain, is to take his name in vain, and you know what he saith, that he will not bold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain, Exod. 22. To this purpose consider that place in Exod. 34 5. 6. where God descended in a cloud, and proclaimed the name to Moses, and what was that? A strong God, merciful and gracious, abundant in mercy and truth. This was his name, now to take these mercies in vain that is, not to make use of them, is to take the name of God in vain. When you swear by the name of God idly in your common speech that is a verbal taking of his n•m in vain, and it is a great sin; but when you make no use of Gods mercies but take them in vain, that is a real taking his name in vain.
Suppose a great man that hath provided a feast, a costly 1and sumptuous feast, he hath made all ready, when all is done his guests that were invited come not, will it not trouble him exceedingly? Certainely the Lord is angry when you are all invited to a rich feast, and yet you will not come. You know the parable in the Gospel, how he was angry with those that were invited and came not, because his mercy was in vain: now when you shall hear that there are riches of mercy in God, if you make no use of it, it is in vain to you, and to take the riches of Gods mercy in vain, is to take his name in vain, and you know what he saith, that he will not bolde him guiltlesse that taketh his name in vain, Exod. 22. To this purpose consider that place in