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

1. That it is arbitrary with God whether ever he will be found by sinful man or no Man in his Apostasy went away from God, bad him depart, preferred other Objects before him, and renounced communion with him; how justly might God upon this have rejected him for ever, and resolved that he should never more obtain his favour? He hath no dependence on his Creature; if he had said they shall never see my face again for ever, he had offered them no injury at all. He therefore in this acts his Sovereignty: and it therein eminently appears, in that he thus manifesteth himself when, where, and to whom he pleaseth; the greatest number of mankind are groping in the dark, seeking an object in which to find their happiness, and God doth not show himself to them, than whom, they to whom he doth thus appear, are nothing better; so that his mere good pleasure is herein displayed; hence that of our Saviour, Mat. 11. 25, 26.

1. That it is arbitrary with God whether ever he will be found by sinful man or no Man in his Apostasy went away from God, bad him depart, preferred other Objects before him, and renounced communion with him; how justly might God upon this have rejected him for ever, and resolved that he should never more obtain his favour? He hath no dependance on his Creature; if he had said they shall never see my face again for ever, he had offered them no injury at all. He therefore in this acts his Soveraignty: and it therein eminently appears, in that he thus manifesteth himself when, where, and to whom he pleaseth; the greatest number of mankind are groping in the dark, seeking an object in which to find their happiness, and God doth not shew himself to them, than whom, they to whom he doth thus appear, are nothing better; so that his meer good pleasure is herein displayed; hence that of our Saviour, Mat. 11. 25, 26.

2. Hence it is at his liberty to fix the terms on which he will be found by them. If the thing it self be at his liberty, he must needs then have the power of prescribing. Man is a Rebel and an Out law; if God will pursue him to death, and destroy him, he doth him no wrong: and if he will indulge him with a treaty of reconciliation, it is at his discretion to make the Articles of it. Now among the other terms of the treaty this is one, viz. the stating of the time wherein men may come in