5. Presumption of mercy; Who will take pains with Hindr. 5 his heart or mourn for sin, that he may be saved at a cheaper rate? How many, Spider-like, suck damnation out of the sweet flower of Gods mercy! Jesus Christ who came into the world to save sinners, is the occasion of many a mans perishing. Oh saith one, Christ died for me, he hath done all; What need I pray or mourn? Many a bold sinner plucks death from the tree of life; and through presumption goes to hell by that ladder of Christs blood, by which others go to heaven. It is sad when the goodness of God, which should lead to repentance, Rom. 4.2. leads to presumption; O sinner do not hope thy self into hell; take heed of being damned upon a mistake. Thou sayest God is merciful, therefore goest on securely in sin. But who is mercy for? the presuming sinner, or the mourning sinner? Isa 55.7. Let the wicked forsake his way, and return to the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; no mercy without forsaking sin; and no forsaking sin without mourning. If a King should say to ⟨p. 101⟩a company of Rebels, Whosoever comes in and submits, shall have mercy; such as stood out in rebellion, could not claim the benefit of the Pardon. God makes a Proclamation of mercy to the mourner; but such as are not mourners, have nothing to do with mercy. The mercy of God is like the Ark, which none but the Priests were to meddle with; none may touch this golden Ark of mercy but such as are Priests unto God*, and have offered up the sacrifice of tears.
5. Presumption of mercy; Who will take pains with Hindr. 5 his heart or mourn for sinne, that he may be saved at a cheaper rate? How many, Spider-like, suck damnation out of the sweet flower of Gods mercy! Jesus Christ who came into the world to save sinners, is the occasion of many a mans perishing. Oh saith one, Christ died for me, he hath done all; What need I pray or mourn? Many a bold sinner plucks death from the tree of life; and through presumption goes to hell by that ladder of Christs blood, by which others go to heaven. It is sad when the goodnesse of God, which should lead to repentance, Rom. 4.2. leads to presumption; O sinner do not hope thy self into hell; take heed of being damned upon a mistake. Thou sayest God is merciful, therefore goest on securely in sinne. But who is mercy for? the presuming sinner, or the mourning sinner? Isa 55.7. Let the wicked forsake his way, and return to the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; no mercy without forsaking sinne; and no forsaking sinne without mourning. If a King should say to ⟨p. 101⟩a company of Rebels, Whosoever comes in and submits, shall have mercy; such as stood out in rebellion, could not claime the benefit of the Pardon. God makes a Proclamation of mercy to the mourner; but such as are not mourners, have nothing to do with mercy. The mercy of God is like the Arke, which none but the Priests were to meddle with; none may touch this golden Arke of mercy but such as are Priests unto God*, and have offered up the sacrifice of tears.
- *Rev 1.6.
