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

2. They have also found God ready to forgive. They have been the instances of those commendations given him in the Scriptures, that he is prone to pardon; that he is a God forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin. When they were ready to cast off all hope, and give themselves up for gone, he came and frankly forgave them, though they could hardly believe it, and could say no more than that poor man, Mark 9. 24. I believe, help mine Unbelief; they have known him to be a merciful God, and how doth this animate them?

3. They have known the prevalency of prayer on this account. They remember it was when God brought them on their knees; it was whiles they were presenting their supplication to him, lying prostrate at his feet, that he took them up into his arms, and gave them a kiss of reconciliation: and this points them the way in which to seek it a gain, and so puts them upon it.

4. They have an interest in God. Though he is angry with them, and witnesseth it in their Consciences, yet he is their Father; he loveth them; they are under the glorious promises of the Gospel, of which this is one, that if his people sin against him, yet if they repent and pray to him, he will forgive; and though the evidence of their interest in him may now be clouded, yet there are usually some resentments of former experiences, which persuade them to hope he will remember a Fathers pity for them, and receive them praying to him.

4. They have an interest in God. Though he is angry with them, and witnesseth it in their Consciences, yet he is their Father; he loveth them; they are under the glorious promises of the Gospel, of which this is one, that if his people sin against him, yet if they repent and pray to him, he will forgive; and though the evidence of their interest in him may now be clouded, yet there are usually some resentments of former experiences, which perswade them to hope he will remember a Fathers pity for them, and receive them praying to him.