The truly blessed man, or, The way to be happy here, and forever being…

2. It is a wonder of his mercy that such as these should find him at all It is rich Grace that he should once offer himself, and accept of those that embrace that first offer; this is a favour which none of the Fallen Angels share in. But that after such Grace hath been so often slighted, he should bow such an heart to seek him; and after never so long a tarriance, at last lift up the light of this countenance, and signalize his love to him, and receive him into his arms, is matter of admiration, that the Great God should deal so by a vile man, is an astonishing thing: Paul thought it so, 1 Tim. 1. 16.

3. It is fit that God should make them smart for their folly. Though his Grace be free, it is not ⟨p. 342⟩fi• that it should be contemptible: it is suitable that Sinners should know that he resents their unworthy carriage, and that they have a deep sense of the contempt they have cast upon him, and his Salvation. God will have his people find the bitterness of their rebellion, Jer. 2. 19. And hence as they have made him to wait long on them; so that they wait some season upon him for his evidencing of his love to them.

4. They have been greatly hardened by these carry ges. Every resistance made to the Spirit of God hardens men more: there is a contracted hardness which corroborates that which is natural. Hence they need more terrifying, breaking and humbling dispensations, to bring them down to the foot of God, and make them apprehensive of their evil ways, and doings; if the Prophet betr an old barlot, he will make her tarry for him […] days,