A95851:65
Mercies memorial
Mercies memorial: or, Israel's thankful remembrance of God in their high estate, for his merciful remembering of them in their low estate. In a sermon before the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor, the Right Worshipful the Aldermen, and the Companies of the city London, on the 5th. of November, 1656. / By Ralph Venning.Mercies memorial: or, Israel's thankful remembrance of God in their high estate, for his mercifull remembring of them in their low estate. In a sermon before the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor, the Right Worshipful the Aldermen, and the Companies of the city London, on the 5th. of November, 1656. / By Ralph Venning.
London: printed for John Rothwell, 1656
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
This may we say, thus may we sing, Is it not so? is there a contradiction to be made against this truth? Nay, my beloved, the case was this, that if God had not been on our side, we had been swallowed up quick; and our not being so, shows God on our side, that God remembered us in our low estate.
This may we say, thus may we sing, Is it not so? is there a contradiction to be made against this truth? Nay, my beloved, the case was this, that if God had not been on our side, we had been swallowed up quick; and our not being so, shews God on our side, that God remembred us in our low estate.
I shall therefore proceed to the third thing, which ⟨p. 12⟩is, the reason why God remembereth his people in their low estate; that is, as in the Text, for his mercy endures for ever; he harps only on this string, he reckons up a long Catalogue of many mercies; and the reason of all these is mercy, only mercy; the reason of one is the reason of all, as I told you before, there is no reason for mercy, but mercy; no reason for grace, but grace; who is gracious; why? because he will, and to whom he will be gracious; so that you see that mercy in God, is all the reason of mercy from God to man in his low estate; it is not mans merit, but Gods mercy, it is not mans due, but Gods gift; it is not mans demand (nor was it in this case mans desire) but Gods grant; who many times answers before they call, and when they are yet speaking, he is hearing; it was not mans measure, but Gods allowance; it was not after the manner of men, who use to go over where the stile is low; this was not because man could make God a requital, but because God would act like himself; it was not Gods profit, but mans necessity; it was not that God needed man, but man needed God; therefore grace still is as free after it is received, as it was before it was given; it was not deserved, and cannot be requited; God therefore gave, as looking for nothing again; that is, nothing that can requite it; and you shall have for this a double witness, God speaks it, and Saints speak it, that God shows not mercy to man because man pleaseth him, but because mercy pleaseth him; indeed one end that God hath in showing mercy, is, that man should please him; but that is not the main motive; for in truth to put mans will