USE, 4. For Exhortation; and let me direct it particularly to such as, being under the sense of perishing in themselves, have made ⟨p. 215⟩discovery of the great power and goodness of God, and received some preparatory hope by it; he hence encouraged and counselled to arise and go to God: Do you feel your selves under a condition so miserable, and have you discovered an object so glorious and suitable? take heart, and resolve to adventure into his presence, and throw your selves upon him. Consider, God therefore reveals himself to be such an one to such as you are, to this very end that you may be wooed and won to him; and if now you put him away by unbelief, you will slight Mercy. Remember withal, though there be so much supply with God, as is enough to make you completely happy, and to spare, yet it is only for comers: If you will taste of this Feast you must accept of the invitation, and come and be guests; you must come out of those hedge-rows, and high-ways in which you lie starving, you must go to the waters, if you will have wine and milk, Isa. 55. 1. Halt no longer between two opinions; if it be good perishing, sit still, but if it be good to be saved arise and come away; come to a resolution, draw up your conclusion. If you object and say, I can resolve nothing of my self, except God put his Grace and resolution in me; I answer, It is true, but remember also, that as God is a free Agent, so we are obliged by duty, and the tie of it is such, that we must, except ⟨p. 216⟩we will bring guilt upon our selves, set about it; and this is our duty, to believe, and resolve, not in your strength, but in the strength of God; nay, it is one of Satan's cheats, to tell us we must wait before we resolve, till we discover Grace coming in, whereas the habits of Grace come in undiscerned, and the first fruit of Grace is to be found in the resolution it self: If God helps us to this resolution, we must by that know that his Spirit is come into us; and it is our duty, in the use of means to stir up our selves to believe. Resolve then in the strength of God; here thou art perishing, there is mercy with him that he may be feared: he saith, if thou comest he will not upbraid thee: he saith, The hungry •e will satisfy with bread, and give the longing soul the desires of his heart: he saith, he will give the weary rest; in a word, if ever you obtain Salvation it must be with him;
USE, 4. For Exhortation; and let me direct it particularly to such as, being under the sense of perishing in themselves, have made ⟨p. 215⟩discovery of the great power and goodness of God, and received some preparatory hope by it; he hence encouraged and counselled to arise and go to God: Do you feel your selves under a condition so miserable, and have you discovered an object so glorious and sutable? take heart, and resolve to adventure into his presence, and throw your selves upon him. Consider, God therefore reveals himself to be such an one to such as you are, to this very end that you may be wooed and won to him; and if now you put him away by unbelief, you will slight Mercy. Remember withal, though there be so much supply with God, as is enough to make you compleatly happy, and to spare, yet it is only for comers: If you will taste of this Feast you must accept of the invitation, and come and be ghuests; you must come out of those hedge-rows, and high-wayes in which you ly starving, you must go to the waters, if you will have wine and milk, Isa. 55. 1. Halt no longer between two opinions; if it be good perishing, sit still, but if it be good to be saved arise and come away; come to a resolution, draw up your conclusion. If you object and say, I can resolve nothing of my self, except God put his Grace and resolution in me; I answer, It is true, but remember also, that as God is a free Agent, so we are obliged by duty, and the ty of it is such, that we must, except ⟨p. 216⟩we will bring guilt upon our selves, set about it; and this is our duty, to believe, and resolve, not in your strength, but in the strength of God; nay, it is one of Satans cheats, to tell us we must wait before we resolve, till we discover Grace coming in, whereas the habits of Grace come in undiscerned, and the first fruit of Grace is to be found in the resolution it self: If God helps us to this resolution, we must by that know that his Spirit is come into us; and it is our duty, in the use of means to stirr up our selves to believe. Resolve then in the strength of God; here thou art perishing, there is mercy with him that he may be feared: he saith, if thou comest he will not upbraid thee: he saith, The hungry •e will satisfie with bread, and give the longing soul the desires of his heart: he saith, he will give the weary rest; in a word, if ever you obtain Salvation it must be with him;
