7. 'Tis not only the aim of the Word, but of Providence, ⟨p. 77⟩and of all the Dispensations of God to the Creature, to represent him merciful. The whole World is a great Volume, written within and without with characters and lines of Mercy: Psal. 145. 7. His mercy is over all his works; Every creature beareth the marks and prints of divine Goodness and Bounty. Once more, The World is a great Theatre and Stage whereon Mercy hath been acting its part for these six thousand years▪ Justice is to have a solemn triumph at the last day: Now and then God hath kept a petty Sessions, and given us occasion to say, Verily there is a God that judgeth the world, as well as preserveth the world: But the greatest part that hath been acted upon the Theatre of the World, is Mercy; as you will easily see, if you consider, 1. The black lines of Providence: If God threaten, 'tis that he may not punish; if he punish, 'tis that he may not punish for ever. In the sadder Providences, though there be misery at the top, yet there is mercy at the bottom. Many times God threateneth, but 'tis to reclaim; though he doth *not change his counsel, yet he doth often change his sentence, Jer. 18. 7, 8. When the message is nothing but plucking up and pulling down, Free-grace cometh in with a sudden rescue, and prevents the execution. Mercy you see is forced to use all methods, and to speak in the language of Justice, that men may be more capable to receive it. Sometimes God punisheth, but with what aim? that he may not for ever punish: 'Tis we that make punishment to be a pledge of eternal damnation; it its own aim 'tis a prevention; and so it proveth to the Elect; We are judged of the Lord, that we may not be condemned of the world, 1 Cor. 11. 32. So Hosea 2. 6. I will hedge up her way with thorns, &c. We should soon grow worldly, and drowned in carnal businesses and projects, if God did not come now and then and blast our enterprises, and make us see our folly. We are puffed up, and God pricketh the bladder, 2 Cor 12. 7. How sweet is this, when in the midst of Judgment God remembereth Mercy? Yea the very executions of Justice are found to be one of the methods of Mercy. In the middle of the first Curse God dropped out a promise of the blessed Seed; So often Mercy overtaketh a Judgment, ⟨p. 78⟩and maketh it cease in the mid way.
7. 'Tis not only the aim of the Word, but of Providence, ⟨p. 77⟩and of all the Dispensations of God to the Creature, to represent him merciful. The whole World is a great Volume, written within and without with characters and lines of Mercy: Psal. 145. 7. His mercy is over all his works; Every creature beareth the marks and prints of divine Goodness and Bounty. Once more, The World is a great Theatre and Stage whereon Mercy hath been acting its part for these six thousand years▪ Justice is to have a solemn triumph at the last day: Now and then God hath kept a petty Sessions, and given us occasion to say, Verily there is a God that judgeth the world, as well as preserveth the world: But the greatest part that hath been acted upon the Theatre of the World, is Mercy; as you will easily see, if you consider, 1. The black lines of Providence: If God threaten, 'tis that he may not punish; if he punish, 'tis that he may not punish for ever. In the sadder Providences, though there be misery at the top, yet there is mercy at the bottom. Many times God threateneth, but 'tis to reclaim; though he doth *not change his counsel, yet he doth often change his sentence, Jer. 18. 7, 8. When the message is nothing but plucking up and pulling down, Free-grace cometh in with a sudden rescue, and prevents the execution. Mercy you see is forced to use all methods, and to speak in the language of Justice, that men may be more capable to receive it. Sometimes God punisheth, but with vvhat aim? that he may not for ever punish: 'Tis vve that make punishment to be a pledg of eternal damnation; it its ovvn aim 'tis a prevention; and so it proveth to the Elect; We are judged of the Lord, that we may not be condemned of the world, 1 Cor. 11. 32. So Hosea 2. 6. I will hedg up her way with thorns, &c. We should soon grovv vvorldly, and drovvned in carnal businesses and projects, if God did not come novv and then and blast our enterprizes, and make us see our folly. We are puffed up, and God pricketh the bladder, 2 Cor 12. 7. Hovv svveet is this, vvhen in the midst of Judgment God remembereth Mercy? Yea the very executions of Justice are found to be one of the methods of Mercy. In the middle of the first Curse God dropped out a promise of the blessed Seed; So often Mercy overtaketh a Judgment, ⟨p. 78⟩
- *Mutat sententiam sed non decretum. Bradwardine.
