Mercy magnified on a penitent prodigal, or, A brief discourse

3. Hence he resolves not to reply against any of God's dispensations, be they never so sharp or sever upon him. There is a great difference between being willing to be damned, and being willing that God should be Sovereign: God commands us to fly from hell, and yet he expects of us, both to acknowledge that we have deserved it, and also that we cannot lay claim of title to any such favour at his hands, as Salvation, till he doth freely bestow it upon us; and that if he doth, we owe the acknowledgement ⟨p. 255⟩of it to his Sovereign good pleasure, Rom. 9. 18. He hath mercy, on whom he will have mercy. We must desire and seek to be saved, but we must submit those desires to him who hath the Key of David, and unlocks heavens doors, to none but to whom he pleaseth.

3. Hence he resolves not to reply against any of God's dispensations, be they never so sharp or sever upon him. There is a great difference between being willing to be damned, and being willing that God should be Soveraign: God commands us to fly from hell, and yet he expects of us, both to acknowledge that we have deserved it, and also that we cannot lay claim of title to any such favour at his hands, as Salvation, till he doth freely bestow it upon us; and that if he doth, we ow the acknowledgement ⟨p. 255⟩of it to his Soveraign good pleasure, Rom. 9. 18. He hath mercy, on whom he will have mercy. We must desire and seek to be saved, but we must submit those desires to him who hath the Key of David, and unlocks heavens doors, to none but to whom he pleaseth.

3. He submits himself to God's free mercy; to which alone he repairs, and on which only he depends for acceptance: and he submits to this,