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

1. All such as resolve their whole hope into the merciful nature of God, not seeking his favour in his own way. That God is merciful and gracious, is a great truth, and woe to us all if it were not so; had he not written his Name in such Letters, we had all been without hope. But this precious truth may be abused, and it is so by all those that have no other plea for Salvation, but because God is merciful; his natural goodness, and his common love to his Creature is the only foundation on which they build, thence arguing that they cannot perish, and hence enquire no farther, but rest here, never asking how this mercy may be obtained, so as to obtain a deliverance from the Curse fallen on them, or what are the terms of the New Covenant, on which God offers himself to be propitious to Sinners, and so never study a compliance with them, but count it enough that he is such a God; this is derided in that Sarcasm, Isa. 27. 4. And this Spirit was in them, Joh. 8. 32. And if we may judge of mens hearts by their practices, this is the guise of all the loose Professors, that live carelessly, and yet confidently.

1. All such as resolve their whole hope into the merciful nature of God, not seeking his favour in his own way. That God is merciful and gracious, is a great truth, and wo to us all if it were not so; had he not written his Name in such Letters, we had all been without hope. But this precious truth may be abused, and it is so by all those that have no other plea for Salvation, but because God is merciful; his natural goodness, and his common love to his Creature is the only foundation on which they build, thence arguing that they cannot perish, and hence enquire no farther, but rest here, never asking how this mercy may be obtained, so as to obtain a deliverance from the Curse fallen on them, or what are the terms of the New Covenant, on which God offers himself to be propitious to Sinners, and so never study a compliance with them, but count it enough that he is such a God; this is derided in that Sarcasm, Isa. 27. 4. And this Spirit was in them, Joh. 8. 32. And if we may judge of mens hearts by their practices, this is the guise of all the loose Professors, that live carelesly, and yet confidently.