The Sure Mercies of David, Treatise · Chapter 10
CHAP. X.
V. THE fifth Uſe of Exhortation is to all ſorts of perſons to look after their ſhare in theſe ſure mercies of David; and oh that I had a Tongue and Pen to drive this nail home; Oh what a mercy now would it be if by theſe ſure mercies of David, and Diſcourſes about them, ſome ſoul were enamoured therewith, and ſet in good earneſt to make them its own. But ſhall I need to uſe many arguments to perſwade any poor ſoul to accept of mercy? Yes certainly, the moſt part of the World forſake their own mercies by obſerving lying vanities; and they that can experimentally diſtinguiſh betwixt a gracious and graceleſs heart, find that 'tis the hardeſt thing in the World to cloſe in with mercies in Gods way: 'tis an eaſie thing for a ſecure ſinner to preſume upon mercy, to make mercy a pillow to ſleep upon with eaſe, to build Caſtles in the Aire, and feed our ſelves with groundleſs conceits of the mercy of God, this any one can do; but to be got of our own bottoms, to deſpair in our ſelves, to accept of Jeſus Chriſt; give up our ſelves to God in Covevant; venture a troubled heart upon the promiſes of Free-grace; this is an high and hard work, an arduous and difficult undertaking: but this is done by every converted ſinner: and a ſoul never obtains mercy till it be indeed ſavingly converted, 1 Tim. 1.13. if you be Lo-ammi, Hoſ. 1.6, 9not Gods people by way of Covenant, you are Lo-ruhamah, i. e. perſons that have not obtained mercy. Oh look after an intereſt in theſe ſure mercies of David: Conſider,
1. Nothing elſe in the World can be made ſure; we live in an inconſtant World; every thing is upon the wheel of change; ſublunary comforts are like the Moon; ſometimes at the full, and ſometimes in the wane, nothing continues in a fixed ſtation; a man may be rich to day, and poor to morrow, therefore the Apoſtle calls them uncertain riches, or uncertainty of riches in the abſtract; now then ſaith the Apoſtle, Chriſtians muſt lay up in ſtore for themſelves a good foundation againſt the time to come, Bavyer Emp. of Germany ſaid, Hujuſmodi com…arand…e ſunt op…s quae cum na…fragio ſimul enatent. Non eſt Paupertas p…curiae paucitas, ſed inſatiabilitas; quae ſi re…ſſerit, qui bonus eſt dives quog…e fu…rit. Clem. Alexand. Strom. lib. 2.1 Tim. 6.17, 18. Alas, riches were never true to any that truſted to them; the things of the World are like ſmoak or ſand, with which you cannot fill your hand: who would be ſo fond of that which a man knows he cannot keep? 'tis the part of a wiſe man to purchaſe ſuch an eſtate as he may enjoy; friends, goods, honours, health, pleaſures have their periods, but theſe mercies are ſure and everlaſting. Oh the vaſt difference; it's very conſiderable, that the things that make us happy, can only be made ſure; but the things of this World which cannot make us happy cannot be made ſure; and indeed whatever may be loſt is not capable of making any truly happy: now Heavenly things are durable as well as ſuitable to the ſoul, therefore let us all take the counſel of our Lord Jeſus in Mat. 6.19.20. Lay not up for your ſelves treaſures upon earth, where moth and ruſt doth corrupt, and where Thieves break through and ſteal—But lay up for your ſelves treaſures in Heaven, where neither moth nor ruſt doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor ſteal.
2. Except you have an intereſt in theſe ſure mercies, common mercies are accurſed to you, nor indeed have you any real Covenant-title to any thing you enjoy, whatever intereſt you have before men [in foro humano] yet [in foro Dei] you are in the Court of Heaven (in a ſort) uſurpers, however you have forfeited all by actual rebellion, and have but what you enjoy as condemned Priſoners or Malefactors to keep you alive till execution of the righteous ſentence of condemnation. Oh the woful condition of Unconverted ſinners! they are accurſed with a Goſpel-curſe, 1 Cor. 16.22. Prov. 3.33.and under a dreadful ſentence of excommunication: there's a curſe in their houſes, on their actions, on their relations, as to them; there's a curſe upon their very bleſſings, Mal. 2.2. there's a plague in their apparel, poiſon in their meat; and we may ſay, death is in the Pot as to all their enjoyments; my meaning is, nothing is truly ſanctified or perfumed with Covenant-mercy; and if God give it a commiſſion, whatever they enjoy may be their bane: whitherſoever they go, a curſe goes with them; whatever they partake of, a curſe meets them in it; whoever they are with, a curſe attends them. Oh fearful ſtate! it was ſad to be under the curſe of a mortal man; Cham found his Father Noah's curſe heavy; but oh how heavy is the curſe of Almighty God, who with a word can ſend the ſoul into Hell; and follow his ſtroke into another World? dear friends, who would live in this curſed ſtate another hour? on the contrary, whoſoever hath theſe mercies of the Covenant hath all bleſſings bleſſed; yea, and alſo croſſes; and, in a ſort, curſes are turned into bleſſings: who would not be covetous of ſuch a ſtate? But to haſten.
3. Without theſe Covenant-mercies the ſoul is not accepted in its choiceſt duties: neither perſon nor performance is owned by God; it is only upon a Covenant-account that any are accepted; indeed in the Covenant of works the perſon was accepted for the works ſake, but in the Covenant of Grace, God accepts the perſon firſt, then the work; if the man be in Chriſt, then the offering is taken in good part, though it be but a Turtle-dove or young Pigeon, though but a ſigh or groan; God takes a Poſie of Flowers [of ſweet-ſmelling Graces] though mixed with ſtinking Weeds, and pricking Bryars of vanity and corruption, gathered by a Child, and perfumed by Chriſts Mediation, and is better pleaſed therewith, than with the moſt odoriferous gifts of uncoverted ſouls, where the heart is deſtitute of Covenant graces: Prov. 15.8.alas, the prayer of the wicked is abomination to God, the great and jealous God challengeth the wicked man that hath not Covenant-mercies in his heart, for taking Covenant-promiſes into his mouth: Pſal. 50.16, 17.What haſt thou to do? ſaith God, q. d. thou poor graceleſs ſinner, thou profaneſt my holy name, and provokeſt the eyes of my glory in the works and worſhip by which thou thinkeſt thou doſt moſt honour and pleaſeſt me: in the ſtate wherein thou art, I cannot endure to look towards thee; I abhorr thy perſon and performance, thy coſtly incenſe is a ſmoak in my noſe; I can ſee through thy painted beauty, at thy rotten inſide; thy guilded Eloquence and Rhetorical Flouriſhes are no more to me than the roaring of Bears or howling of Doggs; get out of my ſight thou ſorry whining hypocrite; all thy duties are as Cyphers, and ſignifie nothing except the Mediatour as the principal and only figure be ſet before them, and the ſpirit of God write and indite them, which are two of the greateſt mercies of the new Covenant. Ah ſirs, God doth deſpiſe the moſt melodious Tunes of wicked men, Pſal. 51.17.but a broken and contrite heart he deſpiſeth not; that's ſweet Muſick in his bleſſed …ears; for a broaken heart is a Covenant-mercy: theſe mercies are brave Ornaments …o believing ſouls, and render them lovely and amiable in the ſight of God: every penitent Tear is a rich Pearl; every Prayer pierceth Heaven and fetcheth down abundant incomes from the Throne of Grace. Oh what a difference do theſe mercies make …n perſons, performances and acceptance with God?
4. Without theſe mercies you have no ſolid ground of peace, comfort, or ſatisfaction: for without theſe you are not only under the ſentence of condemnation; but …ou have no real ground to hope that the ſentence ſhall not be executed this very …our; 'tis a wonder to think that graceleſs …ouls ſhould be ſo merry that are hanging over the pit of Hell, but by the rotten …read of a mortal life: Oh how ſuddenly …ay this brittle glaſs be broken, and they …e gone for ever! for ought they know …hen they go to bed; God may ſay (as …ce he did to one as rich and ſecure as …eſe ſenſual ſots) this night ſhall thy ſoul … required from thee: 'tis a wonder to me …ow ſouls can reſt quietly that are conſcious to themſelves or groundedly ſuſpect they are not in Covenant with God; and ſo know not that they ſhall be another moment out of Everlaſting torments: Red…e praevaricatores ad cor, & inhaerete ei qui ſacit vos: ſtate cum to & ſtab…tis: requieſcite in eo & q…ie…i eritis. Quo itis in aſpectu q…o itis? bonum quod amatis ab illo eſt: ſed quantum eſt & illum bonom eſt ad ſuave.— Vid Aug. conf. lib. 4. c. 12.but God leaves them to ſeared Conſciences, and Satan and the World joyn with their deceitful luſts to lull them aſleep, till God awake them by true repentance or eternal vengeance: but God hath … time to ſhake the foundations of this baſtard-peace, and ſet the ſoul upon the ſure bottom of Covenant-relation, and intereſt in Jeſus Chriſt, which only brings true content and comfort, peace that paſſeth underſtanding, joy in the Holy Ghoſt, and a ſweet Sabbath of refreſhment to the toſſed ſoul: here the noble ſoul may (as i… were) terminate its deſires, and expatiate its largeſt faculties upon its only portion God in Covenant; and thence will reſul… continual ground of triumph and exaltation for theſe mercies are ſuitable and adaequate to the immortal ſoul, and will ſupport i… under greateſt outward preſſures, and i… the hour of death; therefore I may conclude this Exhortation with ver. 2. of this Chapter, Wherefore do you ſpend your money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which ſatisfieth not, hearken diligently unto me, and cat ye that which is good, an… let your ſoul delight it ſelf in fatneſs.
5. Theſe mercies of the Covenant will render your condition ſafe whatever befalls you; we little know what may befall us betwixt this and the grave, who knows what a day may bring forth? man is born to trouble, a Saint is born again to more; bad news may come as Jobs Meſſengers, treading in each others ſteps; loſſes and croſſes may put us on ſad diſcouragements: Oh but now to have a Covenanted God, a Chriſt and all the fore-mentioned Covenant-mercies to ſolace the ſoul, what mercy will this be? when the true Chriſtian can ſay, I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine; my fleſh and heart fail but God is the ſtrength of my heart and my portion for ever: let the Sea roare, Men rage, Heavens look black, and Earth tremble, I lye at Anchor in a ſure Port, I truſt in God, Pſal. 112.7. Pſal. 46.1, 2.and fear no evil tidings from below; God is my refuge and help, yea my preſent help in time of trouble; evils ſhall either miſs me or mend me; all winds blow my ſoul nearer my Haven, all diſpenſations hitch me a ſtep nearer Heaven, for all things work together for my good; my Covenanted God will teach me to profit by Word, Rod, by Mercys, Croſſes, Ordinances, Providences: God is my Sun and Shield, to enlighten me in times of darkneſs, to protect me in times of danger, he will command a guard of Angels to attend me; yea, his wings ſhall cover me, his comforts ſhall refreſh my ſoul; he will guide me here by his counſel, and afterwards receive me to glory. Oh happy ſoul that hath the God of Jacob for his God; and theſe Covenant-mercies his portion: who can hurt ſuch a ſoul? But oh the woful ſtate of one that hath not the name of God as a Tower or Chamber to run unto when evils are approaching? how dreadful was Sauls ſtate, when the Philiſtines were upon him and God had forſaken him? juſt ſuch will be the condition of a ſoul deſtitute of Covenant-mercies in the day of publick or perſonal calamity; alas all they bore up their carnal hearts with is gone, and God is gone, and now they muſt either burſt with grief, or through deſpair make away themſelves, as Judas and Achitophel. See Pſal. 52.7.Oh forlorn ſtate of ſuch as took not God for their God; ſirs think ſeriouſly of theſe things.
6. Theſe Covenant-mercies will have mighty influence upon your ſpirits in Gods ſervice; and in your converſation, an intereſt in the mercies of the Covenant will make you fear God, and tremble to offend ſo good a God; there is forgiveneſs with thee that thou maiſt be feared, Pſal. 130.4. nay, fear to offend God is one great mercy of the Covenant: theſe will melt your hearts into tears of Evangelical repentance for offending God; as you may gather from Zech. 12.10. nay, brokenneſs of heart is one of the mercies of the Covenant: ſence of theſe mercies will make your ſouls love God clearly, Luk. 7.47. nay, love to God is one of the mercies of the Covenant; and ſo for the reſt of the Graces; there's not an useful diſpoſition requiſite to qualifie us for Gods ſervice, but 'tis contained in the Covenant; hereby we ſhall know Gods will, be willing to obey it; delight our ſelves in Gods ſervice, as David, Pſal. 5.7. I will come into thy houſe in the multitude of thy mercy, and in thy fear will I worſhip towards thy holy Temple: we ſhall then ſing in the ways of the Lord, and in the height of Zion, and flow together for the goodneſs of the Lord— Jerem. 31.12. i. e. the goodneſs of the Lord will engage the Saints to come with chearfulneſs into Gods preſence, and thank God for an opportunity of waiting on ſo good a God: holy hearts delight in holy works; grace fits the ſoul for God; Covenant-mercies render a ſoul capable of and ſuitable to Covenant-duties; and the more you partake of theſe mercies, the more delight will you take in duty: the more like you are to God, the more delight will you take in God; and God will delight more in you; and ſo there will be ſweet fellowſhip betwixt God and your ſouls: on the contrary, carnal ſpirits cannot endure ſpiritual exerciſes; they come to duties as a Bear to the ſtake, and when they are therein, they are upon a Rack; Lord be merciful to ſuch a ſoul.
7. Theſe Covenant-mercies will not leave the ſoul till they have brought it to Heaven: Gods mercies are in the Heavens; that's their proper Element; and they never ceaſe moving and mounting the ſoul upwards till they have raiſed him up into the higheſt Heavens: where they ſhall drink of the River of his pleaſures, Pſal. 36.5, 8. now Covenanted ſouls do but taſte that the Lord is gracious, but then they ſhall eat and drink abundantly, and ſhall be ſatisfied with marrow and fatneſs; yea, bathe their ſouls in that fulneſs of joy and pleaſures for evermore, Pſal. 16.11. theſe mercies will make you rich towards God, and rich with God to all Eternity: if you dye with Covenant-mercies in your hearts, you depart like Old Simeon with Chriſt in your arms, and dye in peace, and reſt with God: theſe ſure mercies lead the van to eternal glory, which comes in the rear of a temporal life and ſpiritual graces: yea, eternal life is begun here, as Scripture teſtifies; how is that? why no otherwiſe than by the poſſeſſion of theſe ſpiritual mercies, and Communion with God thereby: this is eternal life, to know the only true God and Jeſus Chriſt, Joh. 17.3. You lay hold on eternal life here by laying hold on theſe beſt bleſſings and Covenant-mercies: 1 Tim. 6.12, 19.he that hath the Son hath life, and by believing on the name of the Son of God, he may know that he hath eternal life; for he hath the record in himſelf; See 1 John 5.10-13. what is this witneſs? it is contained in ſome of theſe ſure mercies of David. Oh therefore, for a ſhare and intereſt therein? on the other hand he that hath nothing to do with theſe ſure mercies hath nothing to do with eternal glory: ſuch as are ſtrangers from the Covenants of promiſe, Eph. 2.12.have no hope of a better life; as the Tree falls ſo ſhall it lye; and ſuch as are found without mercies in their hearts at death, ſhall be found deſtitute of mercy at the great day.
There is one ſort of perſons, I would more particularly preſs to look after their ſhare in theſe ſure mercies of David, and thoſe are the Children of Godly Parents; and hence Solomon prays, Remember the mercies of David thy Servant, 2 Chron. 6.42. ſo you that are the poſterity of godly predeceſſours, cry out for and apply the mercies of your Fathers; and there are two cogent arguments in the quality of theſe mercies the Text mentioneth, for here they are ſaid to be ſure; conſider, 1. Your Parents found them ſure to them. 2. The Promiſe will make them ſure to you.
1. Conſider your Religious Anceſtours found theſe Covenant-mercies ſure to their own ſouls: our Fathers truſted in thee, cryed to thee, they were delivered, were not aſhamed, Pſal. 22.4, 5. Heathens did pertinaciouſly adhere to the Religion of their Predeceſſors; and ſhall Children of Godly Parents forſake their Fathers God? and ſuch a God as never failed them; Moſes in his Song, ſaith, he is my God and I will prepare him an habitation; my Fathers God and I will exalt him, Exod. 15.2. enquire and ſearch; you that are the ſeed of his ſervants, had your fathers ever cauſe to complain of God? was he not as good as his word to them? did he not punctually keep touch with them, and make good all his promiſes to them? did not your Godly Parents breath their laſt with good ſpeeches of God? did they not affectionately commend his ſervice to you upon their death-bed? reflect upon their dying words; did they not proclaim to all the World, that God was a faithful Covenant-keeping God to them? and did they not aſſure you he would be as good to you if you embrace him and keep his ways! yea, cannot you bear witneſs for them, that their laſt words were ſpeaking well of God; as Jacob and Joſeph both did upon their death-bed? did not they in the faith and ſenſe thereof commend you into the hands of their gracious God, as Jacob, Gen. 48.15, 16. the God which fed me all my life long unto this day; the Angel which Redeemed me from all evil, bleſs the lads — did they not expreſs particular perſwaſions of ſome mercy, as thoſe bleſſed Patriarchs, Gen. 48 21. chap 50.24.Behold, I dye, but God ſhall be with you, and bring you again to the Land of your Fathers? Yea, cannot you that are Children bear your Teſtimony for God that he hath been and done according to your Parents faith and hope? Solomon could ſay, after Davids death, thou haſt ſhewed unto thy ſervant David my Father, great mercy, or bounty — but that's not all, and thou haſt kept, ſaith he, for him this great kindneſs, that thou haſt given him a Son to ſit upon his Throne, 1 King. 3.6. and I queſtion not but many of you can ſay as much for God, that God hath had reſpect to you in Temporals becauſe you were the ſeed of ſuch as were dear to him. Oh follow their ſteps and you ſhall fare as they fared.
2. Yet further, you that are the Children of Godly Parents, Iſa. 44.3.59.21. Exod. 20.6. See 2 Sam. 23.1-5. Act. 3.25.you lye directly under the influences of theſe ſure mercies; the promiſe is made to believers and to their ſeed, Gen. 17.7. Act. 2.38, 39. ſuch promiſes bear up the hearts of Gods poor expiring ſervants, concerning their ſurviving Children: Well then, let Children claim their intereſt; plead this grant; none of you will loſe your inheritance for want of looking after it; if your Landlord promiſe you a Leaſe of your Tenement after your Father's deceaſe if you ſue to him for it, and pay the accuſtomed fine, will you be ſo mad as to be turned out of your Farm, and the Heritage left by your Fathers, than own your juſt and loving Landlord according to the Laws of the Land? no man is ſo fond in Temporals, and why ſhould you be ſo fooliſh in Spirituals? Ah Chriſtians, look after your Patrimony; deſpiſe not your Birth-right; is it nothing to you to be born of believing Parents? remember your Parents Prayers and Tears, their Hopes and fears. Oh conſider, how it comforted their hearts upon their death-bed, that they left you under a good Covenant, and bequeathed to you a goodly heritage; and why ſhould your Parents be deceived in their hopes, and meet you ſtrangers at the great day to God and Chriſt, to be ſet with filthy Goats upon the left hand for ever? why will you embezzle or ſin away this fair eſtate? why will you not ſue out this bleſſed Charter for your own ſouls in the Court of Heaven? God is as willing to make it over to you, as ever he was to beſtow it on your Parents; he is loath to cut off his kindneſs from their ſeed; he looks after you in your ſoul-deſtroying practices; and ſaith, as once to Iſrael that did ſo wofully degenerate, Jer. 22.5. q. d. I remember the kindneſs that in former times there was betwixt thy anceſtors, and me. Oh their zeal in running after me, the holy ſervices they did perform to me? thy Father, or Grand-father and ſome former Generations, maintained entercourſe with me, and I with them; there was love of eſpouſals betwixt us; and I am ſure I was not wanting to them; I lookt carefully to them; all that ſought to devour them, were my enemies, they did offend me; and I brought evil upon them; I pleaded their cauſe while they lived, and I took them ſeaſonably to Heaven, and if thou that art their off-ſpring, wouldeſt have put me to't, I would have done as much for thee; if thou hadſt but laid hold of that Covenant; thoſe very Covenant-mercies ſhould have been thine, but thou art gone back, thou wilt have none of me, but walk after new upſtart vanities; thou wilt not vouchſafe ſo much as to enquire after the God of thy Fathers that was ſo faithful to them, and did ſo much for them: but let me ask thee, A like Expoſtulation ſee in Mi…. 6.3, 4.ſince thou wilt needs leave me, what iniquity have either thy Fathers or thou found in me? produce thy reaſons, teſtifie againſt me, did I ever do thee any wrong? have I not always done thee good? Oh ſoul, whitherſoever thou goeſt from me, thou miſſeſt of ſuch a God as thy Fathers ſerved. God ſeems in that Scripture to ſpeak after this manner: Oh hearken to the eternal God, if you will not heed the dying words of your mortal Parents, that dyed in the Lord; though one would think thoſe ſhould move and melt your hearts into tears of Goſpel ſorrow, why ſhould your dear deceaſed Parents riſe up in judgement againſt you at the day of judgement? when it ſhall be enquired whether they did their duty, they muſt needs anſwer according to truth, that they did inſtruct, correct, counſel, admoniſh their wandring Prodigal Children, they brought them to Ordinances, prayed for them, wept and travelled again for them, and yet could not prevail; and now muſt come in to bear witneſs againſt them, and muſt rejoyce in Gods juſt vengeance upon them. Oh what a ſad caſe will theſe rebellious Children be in? 'tis no pleading priviledges by means of believing Parents at that day; the higher you were advanced therein, the lower will you be caſt down to Hell, Matth. 11.23. oh how terrible will it be to ſee godly Parents in Heaven, and themſelves caſt into utter darkneſs; yea, to ſee ſtrangers (or the Converted Children of Heatheniſh Parents) come from Eaſt, and Weſt, and ſit down with Abraham, Iſaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven but the Children of theſe Kingdoms (poſterity of Covenanted Parents) caſt out into utter darkneſs — See Mat. 8.11, 12.
Let me therefore perſwade all graceleſs Children to look about them; do you above all others take heed of miſcarrying; greater expectations are from you than others; the ſurviving friends of your Religious Anceſtors look after you, and enquire what you do; oh rejoyce their hearts by walking in the ſteps of your predeceſſours; I ſhall beſpeak you, yea charge you, in the words of Reverend Mr. Bolton upon his death-bed, that none of you will dare to meet us at the great Tribunal in an unregenerate ſtate: let every Child of Godly Parents plead for Covenant-mercies, as once Solomon did, 2 Chron. 1.8, 9. thou haſt ſhewed great mercy unto David my Father — now O Lord God, let thy promiſe unto David my Father be eſtabliſhed — thus do you plead with God, and ſay, Lord my Parents embraced the Covenant; it was thy free-grace to chooſe them, and ſet thy heart upon them; and is that Grace weary? canſt thou not own me with Covenant-mercy? nay, doſt thou not call that mercy to Abraham by the ſurer name of truth unto Jacob? am not I a Child of the promiſe; Lord cut not off the entail of Covenant-mercies from me or mine for ever.
But I muſt haſten, let all ſouls ſeek after a ſhare in Covenant-mercies, you that are afar off, and you that are near, Children of the good and of the bad; draw near hither, take hold of this Covenant; here's mercy for you all, theſe mercies are attainable; let the wicked forſake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God for he will abundantly pardon, Iſa. 55.7. they are mercies, fear not being made welcome, they are ſure mercies; fear not diſappointment: thou haſt a tender of mercies, that's mercy, yea ſuch a mercy as the fallen Angels never had, or ever ſhall have; and if thou refuſe thou doſt not only neglect a great ſalvation, but the Devils ſhall riſe up in judgement againſt thee: it's a wonder of mercies that thou art not paſt hopes of mercies, thou haſt run a wild courſe, yet, there's hope if now thou come upon the call of mercy? all the condition God requires is acceptance of Chriſt and Grace; it ſticks at your wills, and if you wilfully reject mercy what muſt ſave you? if you will be damned who can hinder you? you muſt thank your ſelves for ever: the God of mercy ſtands waiting at your door, the Prince of peace purchaſed mercy at a dear rate; the ſpirit of grace knocks and put in his bleſſed finger at the hole of the door, will not yet your bowels move towards him? he beſeecheth you to be reconciled that might with a word command you into Hell; and will you have no bowels of mercy towards your own ſouls? Miniſters Intreat, 2 Cor. 5.20. Rom. 12.1.Travel, Study, Weep, and earneſtly beſeech you for mercies ſake, to come in: and yet will you ſtand out? and muſt I after all this pains leave you ſhort of mercy, theſe ſure and ſweet mercies? God forbid, however remember you were warned.