The Holy Arbor, Chapter 6 · Section 1
I.
THe greateſt Evidence of Gods Love that could be given, conſiſteth in the Forgiveneſs of Sin, which is well known to all that know the end of Chriſts coming (which was to ſave Sinners, 1 Tim. 1.15.) and the extent of this Love of God reacheth to all Sins (except that againſt the Holy Ghoſt) which neither is unremiſſable in its own nature as it is ſin, but as the party ſo ſinning is uncapable of Repentance, and conſequently of Mercy; ſo that there is no ſin (that excepted) but cometh within the compaſs of Gods Mercy and Pardon upon Repentance: The Reaſon is, becauſe the Mercy of God is greater then all ſins whatſoever, and the Sacrifice of Chriſt is a ſufficient Price of Redemption for all; his blood cleanſeth from all ſin, 1 Joh. 1.7. From this extent of Gods Love it may be well inferred, That Mans deſtruction is of himſelf, either becauſe he maliciouſly deſpights the Spirit of Grace, or wilfully rejects the offer of Pardon. In the order of Redemption God hath made mans ſin pardonable, but man by his impenitency makes it not to be pardoned; for God excludeth none from the participation of his Mercy, his Pardon being offered to all; which yet muſt be underſtood of Gods outward Diſpenſation and Manifeſtation of his Mercy by the Miniſtery of the Word, wherein no difference is made betwixt perſons, nor exemption of any: So as it calleth not into queſtion the Secret Counſel and Eternal Decree of God. Again, it muſt be known, That it is to be referred to the ſeveral degrees, ſorts and conditions of men, betwixt which God maketh no difference; as Honorable, Mean; Rich, Poor; Learned, Unlearned; Old, Yong; Free, Bond; Male, Female; Magiſtrate, Subject, &c. Laſtly, it is to be applied to the All ſufficiency of Chriſts Sacrifice, which is available to take away the ſins of the moſt notorious ſinners that can be, as well as any other ſinners.
Gods love to Man appears both
1. In this life,
1. Before the Fall, in making us after his own Image.
2. After the Fall, by repairing his Image again in us, which we had loſt.
2. In the World to come, by crowning us with Immortality; for the Goodneſs of God endureth for ever, Pſal. 103.17.
Gods love to Man opened in the Scripture by theſe degrees; viz.
1. God hath no pleaſure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live, Ezek. 33.11.
2. That he deferreth, mitigateth, and taketh away puniſhments, inviting all men to Repentance.
3. That he debaſeth himſelf to relieve our infirmities, by his Spirit, Word, Sacraments and Miracles.
4. That he embraceth with ſingular love his Choſen, ſo that he ſaveth and delivereth them for ever from ſin and all Evils, and comforteth all in Afflictions, Rev. 7.21.
5. That he choſe rather to bring to paſs this our Delivery even by the Incarnation and Death of his onelyonly begotten Son, then that all Mankinde ſhould periſh, Joh. 3.
6. That he promiſeth and performeth all thoſe things of his own free goodneſs, Exod. 34.19.
7. That he doth thoſe things towards ſinners, not onelyonly unworthy of them, but even his Enemies, Rom. 5.10.
Two things which highly commend Gods love; viz.
1. The Freeneſs of his Grace, which is every way ſo free, that the Goodneſs which he ſheweth to his creature, is altogether of himſelf, and from himſelf, Joh. 3.16. Rom. 5.10. when there was none to mediate for us, Gen. 3.15. God offered Grace, and freely gave his Son to be a Mediator. This is to be oppoſed againſt mans unworthineſs.
2. The Riches of his Mercy, which are unutterable, unconceiveable; according to Gods Greatneſs ſo is his Mercy, Infinite, and reacheth above the Heavens; ſo as he may be ſaid to be Rich in Mercy, Eph. 2.4. Abundant in Goodneſs, Exod. 34.6. This is to be oppoſed to the Multitude and the Heinouſneſs of our Sins.
God is Rich in Love and Mercy to Man divers ways; viz.
1. Becauſe he doth perform more effects of his Love, in regard of himſelf, then we have need of, or our miſery require; for to the Remiſſion of ſins a ſimple Pardon had been ſufficient, but hereto he addes the gift of his Son by his death to ſatisfie for us, by his Spirit to Regenerate and Sanctifie us, &c.
2. He doth never ceaſe to communicate his Love unto us, it is never dry.
3. He Loves us for our own good, having no need of us, he gets nought by it.
4. He Redeems us from all ſins, gives us Faith and Repentance freely, we deſerve it not.
5. He Dyed for us even when we were his very Enemies, the Children of wrath.
6. He Prevents us with his Grace, when we ſought not to him for it.
7. He Beſtows Temporal Favors, and withholds preſent Afflictions from the Reprobate.
8. He Proſecutes us with his Love unto the end, and in the end gives us the Salvation of our Souls, the end of our Faith.
The conſideration of Gods Love, muſt Teach us theſe Duties; viz.
1. To beware of all ſin, whereby we do offend and diſpleaſe our God who is ſo gracious unto us.
2. To truſt God with our Lives, Healths, Bodies, Eſtates, and all we have for Food, Raiment, and Protection in the ſober uſe of all lawful means.
3. To ſeek for help and ſuccor from God in all diſtreſſes and want.
4. To love ſo bountiful a God, yea to enforce our hearts to all duties of love to him.
5. To be thankful to God for all good things we enjoy; for whatever good we have, comes from him.
6. We muſt labor continually in heart and life to walk worthy of the Lord, and to pleaſe him in all things, being fruitful in all good works, Col. 1.10.
The Duties required of ſuch of us to whom Gods Love hath been ſpecially manifeſted, in raiſing us who before were weak and contemptible in the world, to be Inſtruments of his Glory; viz.
1. We muſt confeſs our ſelves miſerable by Nature, and no good thing in us to raiſe up our ſelves above others, being no way better then others.
2. We muſt conſider, That whatſoever we have, it is Gods gift, we have received at his hands, it cometh down from above; and therefore let us not glory as if we had not received it, 1 Cor. 4.7.
3. We muſt walk worthy of our Calling, even of thoſe Mercies which we have taſted, and acknowledge our ſelves to be unworthy of them.
4. We muſt be humble in our own eyes, and not boaſt of any thing in our ſelves, or in our own merits, nor think our ſelves worthy to be regarded of him.
5. If we be thankful for leſſer Mercies, we may be aſſured of greater and of fatter bleſſings.
6. We muſt keep a Regiſter of his bleſſings, and ſo ſettle them in our hearts, that we forget them not, but may thereby be provoked to ſet forth his praiſe.