The first general circumstance of the souls Preparation, is on Gods part; wherein is The offer of Christ Jesus, The condition of this offer, and The easiness of this condition; we may have all in this one Comparison: As with a Malefactor convicted of High Treason, for plotting some wicked practice against his Prince, if (after the discovery of all passages) the King make a Proclamation, That upon the surceasing of his Enterprises, he shall be pardoned; nay, if the King shall continue to send Message after Message, secretly to tell him, that would he yet lay down his arms and take a pardon, he shall freely be remitted, and graciously accepted into favour again: if this Traitor now should rather fling away his Pardon then his Weapons, then should the King raise an Army and overcome him, and take him, and execute him without any ⟨p. 5⟩pity or mercy, I appeal to your own Consciences, is he not justly rewarded? What will the world say? he had a fair offer of Pardon, and the King sent Messenger after Messenger unto him; seeing therefore he refused and neglected such offers, it is pity but condemnation should befall him: thus would all say. Why, this is the condition of every poor soul under heaven, we are all Rebels and Traitors; by our Oaths and Blasphemies, we set our mouth against heaven; and yet after all our pride and stubbornness, and looseness and profaneness, and contempt of Gods Word and Ordinances, the Lord is pleased to proclaim Mercy still to every one that will receive it: All you that have dishonoured my Name, All you that have profaned my Sabbaths, and contemned my Ordinances, All you cursed wretches, Come; Come who will, and take Pardon; therein is the Offer: only let them lay aside all their weapons; therein is the Condition: and then have Christ for the taking; therein is the Easiness of the condition.
The first general circumstance of the souls Preparation, is on Gods part; wherein is The offer of Christ Jesus, The condition of this offer, and The easiness of this condition; we may have all in this one Comparison: As with a Malefactor convicted of High Treason, for plotting some wicked practice against his Prince, if (after the discovery of all passages) the King make a Proclamation, That upon the surceasing of his Enterprises, he shall be pardoned; nay, if the King shall continue to send Message after Message, secretly to tell him, that would he yet lay down his arms and take a pardon, he shall freely be remitted, and graciously accepted into favor again: if this Traytor now should rather fling away his Pardon then his Weapons, then should the King raise an Army and overcome him, and take him, and execute him without any ⟨p. 5⟩pity or mercy, I appeal to your own Consciences, is he not justly rewarded? What will the world say? he had a fair offer of Pardon, and the King sent Messenger after Messenger unto him; seeing therefore he refused and neglected such offers, it is pity but condemnation should befal him: thus would all say. Why, this is the condition of every poor soul under heaven, we are all Rebels and Traytors; by our Oathes and Blasphemies, we set our mouth against heaven; and yet after all our pride and stubbornness, and loosness and prophaneness, and contempt of Gods Word and Ordinances, the Lord is pleased to proclaim Mercy still to every one that will receive it: All you that have dishonored my Name, All you that have prophaned my Sabbaths, and contemned my Ordinances, All you cursed wretches, Come; Come who will, and take Pardon; therein is the Offer: onely let them lay aside all their weapons; therein is the Condition: and then have Christ for the taking; therein is the Easiness of the condition.
