The riches of Gods love unto the vessels of mercy, consistent with his absolute…The riches of Gods love unto the vessells of mercy, consistent with his absolute…

These things (he saith) being well considered, will make any man (as he thinks) to conclude in his thoughts, that if there be any such decree, God is not merciful to men at all. A most unshamefac't pretence, and savouring of a spirit that hath expectorated all natural ingenuity: doth not every one perceive, that all this nothing at all hinders the incomprehensible nature of Gods mercy towards his Elect? Dares he himself in plain terms deny this, namely that it nothing prejudiceth the course of Gods mercy towards his Elect? For what if by the sin wherein they are borne, they be made guilty of eternal death, yet if God be pleased to pardon this sin, nor this only, but all actual transgressions of theirs; yea, and break the yoke of their corruption, and as he seeth their ways so to heal them, yea to heal their rebellions, and backslidings, to subdue their iniquities, to rule them with a mighty hand, to make them pass under the rod, and bring them unto the bond of the covenant, and when he hath brought them thither, to hold them there, to perfect the good work he hath begun in them; As he hath laid the foundation of his temple in their hearts, so to finish it, to be the Author and finisher of their faith, and as of their faith, so of their repentance, to hold them in his hands, so that none shall take them therehence, to keep them by the power of God through faith unto salvation, to build them upon a rock that the gates of hell shall not prevail against them; either to deliver them from the hour of temptation, or to deliver them out of it, or so to order it, that it shall not be above their strength, to be with them when they go through the water, and through the fire, that the floods shall not overwhelm them, the fire shall not burn them, but as he leads them into it, so he will support them in it, and lead them through it, as he led the Children of Israel into the red sea, and in the red sea (as an horse in the Wilderness, that they should not stumble) and out of the red sea, into the Wilderness, and in the Wilderness, and out of the Wilderness; In a word, to fulfil the good pleasure of his goodness towards them, his grace in them, and every good work that he hath appointed for them; in such sort that the beast shall not prevail over them, until they have finished their testimony:

These things (he saith) being well considered, will make any man (as he thinks) to conclude in his thoughts, that if there be any such decree, God is not mercifull to men at all. A most unshamefac't pretence, and savouring of a spirit that hath expectorated all naturall ingenuity: doth not every one perceive, that all this nothing at all hinders the incomprehensible nature of Gods mercy towards his Elect? Dares he himselfe in plain termes deny this, namely that it nothing prejudiceth the course of Gods mercy towards his Elect? For what if by the sinne wherein they are borne, they be made guilty of eternall death, yet if God be pleased to pardon this sinne, nor this only, but all actuall transgressions of theirs; yea, and break the yoake of their corruption, and as he seeth their wayes so to heale them, yea to heale their rebellions, and backslidings, to subdue their iniquities, to rule them with a mighty hand, to make them passe under the rod, and bring them unto the bond of the covenant, and when he hath brought them thither, to hold them there, to perfect the good work he hath begun in them; As he hath laid the foundation of his temple in their hearts, so to finish it, to be the Author and finisher of their faith, and as of their faith, so of their repentance, to hold them in his hands, so that none shall take them therehence, to keep them by the power of God through faith unto salvation, to build them upon a rock that the gates of hell shall not prevaile against them; either to deliver them from the howre of temptation, or to deliver them out of it, or so to order it, that it shall not be above their strength, to be with them when they goe through the water, and through the fire, that the floods shall not overwhelme them, the fire shall not burne them, but as he leads them into it, so he will support them in it, and lead them through it, as he led the Children of Israel into the red sea, and in the red sea (as an horse in the Wildernesse, that they should not stumble) and out of the red sea, into the Wildernesse, and in the Wildernesse, and out of the Wildernesse; In a word, to fulfill the good pleasure of his goodnesse towards them, his grace in them, and every good work that he hath appoynted for them; in such sort that the beast shall not prevaile over them, untill they have finished their testimony: