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

2. God will certainly forg•ve no Sinners but in his own way. Infinite Wisdom hath contrived a way for the exalting free grace in the Salvation of Sinners, so as with it to give lustre to his other ⟨p. 267⟩Perfections: and herein he gives us to see his merciful nature, in that he hath found out, and brought about such a way to do it in, and hath not spared for cost in the effecting it: but for Sinners to expect it out of this way, is a great madness; it is enough, there is forgiveness with him, Psal. 130. 4. And if we may in any way obtain it, we shall owe him the praise of it for ever; but still God threatens such as neglect this way, that there shall be no mercy for them, Isa. 27. 11.

3. Hence there are none more like to be peculiar monuments of his Wrath, than such as thus turn his Grace into wantonness. Though God hath a mind to show compassion to Sinners, yet he never designed to show any favour to Sin, but in this very way to let it be seen how odious it is to him. If he had indulged it in any, it had been in his own Son, when he took the imputation of it on him, being immaculate in himself; but he spared not him, Rom. 8. 32. And what do you other, than go about to make the Holy God a patron of sin? as if he had found out a way to Save Sinners in their sins, and encourage them to hold on a course of them: What can more derogate from his Glory? needs then must this expose you to his more exasperated Wrath; See then what he hath to say to such as you, Psal. 50. 22. Oh take heed!

3. Hence there are none more like to be peculiar monuments of his Wrath, than such as thus turn his Grace into wantonness. Though God hath a mind to shew compassion to Sinners, yet he never designed to shew any favour to Sin, but in this very way to let it be seen how odious it is to him. If he had indulged it in any, it had been in his own Son, when he took the imputation of it on him, being immaculate in himself; but he spared not him,