A59035:1005
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.
4. It is not unworthiness which hinders any from this Covenant, but unwillingness; 1Not the want of deserts, but the want of an heart; for this covenanting is not a bargain, but a match, where willingness of consent is only insisted upon; My son (saith God) give me thy heart, and hearken unto me and your souls shall live; and if you be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of •he Land. ⟨p. 108⟩If a mighty Prince should offer himself to match with a poor maid, alas, it is not worthiness that he intends or expects, nothing doth he require of her but to be willing to take him; so when the Lord treats with sinners to come into Covenant with him, it is not their worthiness which he articles about; all that he requires is to be willing to take him for their God, and to be willing to become his people.
4. It is not unworthinesse which hinders any from this Covenant, but unwillingnesse; 1Not the want of deserts, but the want of an heart; for this covenanting is not a bargain, but a match, where willingnesse of consent is only insisted upon; My son (saith God) give me thy heart, and hearken unto me and your souls shall live; and if you be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of •he Land. ⟨p. 108⟩If a mighty Prince should offer himself to match with a poor maid, alas, it is not worthinesse that he intends or expects, nothing doth he require of her but to be willing to take him; so when the Lord treats with sinners to come into Covenant with him, it is not their worthinesse which he articles about; all that he requires is to be willing to take him for their God, and to be willing to become his people.
- 1It is not unwo• thinness, but unwillingness which hinders from the Covenant.