Doct. 2 Secondly, if God should not show mercy to his people with a Notwithstanding; How should the glory of his Mercy appear? If a Physician should only cure a man that hath the Head-ache, or Tooth-ache; one that hath taken Cold, or some small disease; it would not argue any great skill, and excellency in the Physician. But when a man is nigh unto death, hath one foot in the grave, or is in the eye of reason past all recovery; if then the Physician cure him, it argues much the skill and excellency of that Physician: So now, if God should only cure, and save a People that were less evil and wicked; or that were good indeed, where should the Excellency of mercy appear? but when a People shall be drawing on, lying bed-rid, as it were, and the Lord out of his free love, for his own Names sake, shall raise, and cure such an unworthy People, this sets out the glory of his Mercy. Read therefore, and consider, what is said in Psal. 87.3. Glorious things are spoken of thee: 1but rather (according to the Hebrew) In thee. O thou City of God. What are those glorious things? Verse the 4. I will make mention of Rahab, and Babylon, to them that know me; Rahab signifies, Pride, and Insolency; for Egypt ⟨p. 6⟩dealt Proudly and Insolently with the people of God: Babylon also oppressed them sorely, and held them in captivity; yet (says the Lord) I will make mention of Egypt, and Babylon to them that know me. Yea, Philistia, and Tyre, and Ethiopia; men and people that were very wicked; shall be found with the Saints; the Lord will take special notice of them,2 as of those in Zion. What then? Then glorious things shall be spoken In thee. Mercy is never Glorious, but when it is Rich; It is never Rich, but when it is free; and the more free it is, and works with a Notwithstanding, the more glorious it is. Now God, who is the God of Glory, will have his Mercy, which is his Glory, made Glorious; and therefore, though the Sin of a People be exceeding great, and very heinous, yet he will sometimes save them for his own Names sake, with a Notwithstanding all their Sins.
Doct. 2 Secondly, if God should not show mercy to his people with a Notwithstanding; How should the glory of his Mercy appear? If a Physician should onely cure a man that hath the Head-ach, or Tooth-ach; one that hath taken Cold, or some small disease; it would not argue any great skil, and excellency in the Physician. But when a man is nigh unto death, hath one foot in the grave, or is in the eye of reason past all recovery; if then the Physiciam cure him, it argues much the skil and excellency of that Physician: So now, if God should onely cure, and save a People that were lesse evil and wicked; or that were good indeed, where should the Excellency of mercy appear? but when a People shall be drawing on, lying bed-rid, as it were, and the Lord out of his free love, for his own Names sake, shall raise, and cure such an unworthy People, this sets out the glory of his Mercy. Read therefore, and consider, what is said in Psal. 87.3. Glorious things are spoken of thee: 1but rather (according to the Hebrew) In thee. O thou City of God. What are those glorious things? Verse the 4. I wil make mention of Rahab, and Babylon, to them that know me; Rahab signifies, Pride, and Insolency; for Aegypt ⟨p. 6⟩dealt Proudly and Insolently with the people of God: Babylon also opprest them sorely, and held them in captivity; yet (saies the Lord) I wil make mention of Aegypt, and Babylon to them that know me. Yea, Philistia, and Tyre, and Aethiopia; men and people that were very wicked; shal be found with the Saints; the Lord wil take speciall notice of them,2 as of those in Zion. What then? Then glorious things shall be spoken In thee. Mercy is never Glorious, but when it is Rich; It is never Rich, but when it is free; and the more free it is, and works with a Notwithstanding, the more glorious it is. Now God, who is the God of Glory, wil have his Mercy, which is his Glory, made Glorious; and therefore, though the Sin of a People be exceeding great, and very hainous, yet he wil sometimes save them for his owne Names sake, with a Notwithstanding all their Sins.
- 1[Greek or Hebrew] gloriosa dicta in te. Ar. Mont.〈non-Latin alphabet〉 gloriosa dicta in te. Ar. Mont.
- 2Vers. 4. & 5.
