A59035:1004
The bowels of tender mercy sealed in the everlasting covenant wherein is set forth…
The bowels of tender mercy sealed in the everlasting covenant wherein is set forth the nature, conditions and excellencies of it, and how a sinner should do to enter into it, and the danger of refusing this covenant-relation : also the treasures of grace, blessings, comforts, promises and privileges that are comprised in the covenant of Gods free and rich mercy made in Jesus Christ with believers / by that faithful and reverend divine, Mr Obadiah Sedgwick ... ; perfected and intended for the press, therefore corrected and lately revised by himself, and published by his own manuscript ...The bowels of tender mercy sealed in the everlasting covenant wherein is set forth the nature, conditions and excellencies of it, and how a sinner should do to enter into it, and the danger of refusing this covenant-relation : also the treasures of grace, blessings, comforts, promises and priviledges that are comprized in the covenant of Gods free and rich mercy made in Jesus Christ with believers / by that faithful and reverend divine, Mr Obadiah Sedgwick ... ; perfected and intended for the press, therefore corrected and lately revised by himself, and published by his own manuscript ...
London: printed by Edward Mottershed for Adoniram Byfield, 1661
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.
3. The acknowledging of our unworthiness is more proper and answerable to 1this Covenant, than a pleading or a fancying of our worthiness. I will go home to my Father, and say, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and against thee, I am not worthy to be called thy son: Mark, he comes home confessing his sins, and acknowledging his unworthiness, and he was accepted and pitied, and embraced, and received, &c. O Lord, though our iniquities testify against us, do thou it for thy Names sake; for our back-slidings are many, we have sinned against thee; so they plead: This indeed is the right posture for one who would be admitted into this Covenant, not to come like a proud Pharisee, but like an humble Publican, God be merciful to me a sinner; not to come as the Jews did for one to Christ, he is worthy; but as the Centurion did unto Christ, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under the roof of my house. O Lord, I have been a wretched sinner, and the greatest of sinners; I deserve nothing but wrath and hell; I beseech thee to look on me in mercy, for mercies sake pity me, for mercies sake own me, for mercies sake be my God, and make me one of thy people, &c. Merita mea misericordia tua, saith Bernard, my merits are only thy mercies! Thou art the Lord merciful and gracious, O save me freely, accept of me freely, &c.
3. The acknowledging of our unworthinesse is more proper and answerable to 1this Covenant, than a pleading or a fancying of our worthiness. I will go home to my Father, and say, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and against thee, I am not worthy to be called thy sonne: Mark, he comes home confessing his sinnes, and acknowledging his unworthinesse, and he was accepted and pitied, and embraced, and received, &c. O Lord, though our iniquities testifie against us, do thou it for thy Names sake; for our back-slidings are many, we have sinned against thee; so they plead: This indeed is the right posture for one who would be admitted into this Covenar, not to come like a proud Pharisee, but like an humble Publican, God be merciful to me a sinner; not to come as the Jewes did for one to Christ, he is worthy; but as the Centurion did unto Christ, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under the roof of my house. O Lord, I have been a wretched sinner, and the greatest of sinners; I deserve nothing but wrath and hell; I beseech thee to look on me in mercy, for mercies sake pity me, for mercies sake own me, for mercies sake be my God, and make me one of thy people, &c. Merita mea misericordia tua, saith Bernard, my merits are only thy mercies! Thou art the Lord meriful and gracious, O save me freely, accept of me freely, &c.