Innocency Though Under a Cloud Cleared, Part 6
Juſt at this time having a Letter from a Friend, I ſhall leave off what I was going on in, and in the next place anſwer that, and therefore I think it neceſſary to write down the Letter it ſelf, and ſo go on in anſwering of it.
Octob. 9th 1663. Dear and pretious Brother,
YOU whom God hath made inſtrumental of much good to my ſoul; for which I do bleſs God; and do dayly pray, that God would give you ſuitable upholds to carry you through all your ſufferings, with ſuch patience as your ſufferings call for: I muſt confeſs, in ſome ſence they differ from moſt; for not only I, but many were at a ſtand, to hear what Cenſures were paſſed upon you, by ſuch who appeared eminent for God: But ſince I ſearched, and ſaw they were falſe, I am aſhamed of my readinſs to receive them.
Theſe are to intreat your pains, now you are confined, to mind your promiſes, in giving me the Heads of what you preached from John 3.16. and that from Phil. 1.23, 24. about the Immortality of the Soul; and a word or two what that Peace is that is purchaſed by Chriſt for Chriſtians, and whether a peculiar Grace or State; and a word or two of the Difference between the Old and New Covenants: In doing of which, you will refreſh the heart of
Your loving Friend in the Lord.
Now in anſwer to this Letter, I ſhall begin with the Heads of what I declared of my apprehenſions from John 3. the firſt part of the 16th verſe;
For God ſo loved the World, that he gave his only begotten Son.
From the words many rich Truths may be obſerved; but I ſhall firſt obſerve ſomething in general.
You muſt mind that theſe words is a reaſon of what in the 15th verſe is affirmed; viz. That whoſoever believes, ſhall not periſh, but have everlaſting Life. Now that the Comfort of theſe words may be diſcovered, I ſhall firſt obſerve this general Truth from theſe words, God So loved. The word [So] is ſo unexpreſſible, ſo admirable, ſo matchleſs, ſo that,
Obſerve Doct. The Love of God in giving Chriſt, is a rich, admirable, and unexpreſſible Love.
For the opening of this, mind,
1. Scriptures to prove it.
2. We ſhall by way of illuſtration, lay down many things to make good this Truth.
As for Scriptures, mind theſe, Rom. 5.8. But God commendeth his Love towards us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Chriſt dyed for us; Epheſ. 2.4. But God who is rich in Mercy, for his great Love wherewith he hath loved us, even when we were dead in ſins, &c. chap. 3.19. And to know the Love of Chriſt, which paſſeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the Fulneſs of God: In 1 John 3.1. Behold what manner of Love the Father hath beſtowed upon us, that we ſhould be called the Sons of God! chap. 4.9, 10. In this was manifeſted the Love of God towards us, becauſe that God ſent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him; verſe 10. Herein is Love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and ſent his Son to be a Propitiation for our Sins. See John 17.23. I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the World may know that thou haſt ſent me, and haſt loved them as thou haſt loved me. And you may ſee what is ſaid of Chriſts Love in that ſence, Gal. 2.20. I am crucified with Chriſt; nevertheleſs I live, yet not I, but Chriſt liveth in me; and the Life which I now live in the fleſh, I live by the Faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himſelf for me: Joh. 13.14. Greater Love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his Friend.
Now for Illuſtration, mind.
1. Conſider in what relation Chriſt ſtood with God, when God gave Chriſt.
2. Conſider to what God gave him.
3. How God gave him.
4. For whom God gave him.
5. God's Ends in that work.
Laſtly, The Improvements.
1. In what relation Chriſt ſtood with God there was the bond of nature in the higheſt degree; for he was his Son, Pſal. 2.7. I will declare the Decree; the Lord hath ſaid unto me, Thou art my son, this day have I begotten thee: Heb. 5.5. So alſo Chriſt glorified not himſelf to be made an High Prieſt, but Him that ſaid unto him, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.
2. There was the tye of ſingularity and peculiarity, his Son, nay his only Son; as in this 3d of John; had God had another Son in that ſence, though the giving up had been … high token of Love, yet not ſo much as in …his ſence, his only Son.
3. As there was ſuch an high Affinity in Nature, ſo there was an unexpreſſable heighth … Unity of Affection: See upon God's …de, in Mat. 3.17. And loe a Voice from Hea…en, ſaying, This is my beloved Son, in whom … am well pleaſed; and chap. 12.18. Behold …y Servant whom I have choſen, my Beloved, in whom my ſoul is well pleaſed; I will put my Spi…it upon him, and he ſhall ſhew Judgement to the Gentiles; and chap. 17.5. While he yet ſpeak, …ehold a bright Cloud overſhadowed them, and …ehold a Voice out of the Cloud, which ſaid, This … my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleaſed, …ear ye him: and in Mark 1.11. And there …ame a Voice from Heaven, ſaying, Thou art my …eloved Son, in whom I am well pleaſed: and duplicate page duplicate page in 2 Pet. 1.17. For he received from God the Father, Honour and Glory, when there came ſuch a Voice to him from the excellent Glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleaſed. So you may ſee in Chriſt, what a high unexpreſſable Love he had to his Father, his Fathers Will was his Will; and to anſwer his Fathers Pleaſure, was ſo great a pleaſure to him, that Life and all muſt go, as little enough to ſpeak out his Love.
Now conſider all this, and you will ſee, that the one might have reſtrained God, and have tyed up his hands from giving up his Son; and Chriſt might have pleaded on the other ſide, Why me, Father? why me that am thy only Son, &c.? but God looks over all in this act.
4. There were bonds of Honour, both on one Throne, in one Glory. It might ſeem in the eye of carnal reaſon, to be below God thus to abaſe Chriſt, and that in relation to a point of Honour. O what Love muſt there be to over-look this!
5. He ſtood related to God, as the chief eſt and eminenteſt object of his Delight Prov. 8.30. Then I was by him as one brough up with him, and I was dayly his Delight, rejoycing alwayes before him; Iſa. 42.1. Behol my Servant whom I uphold, mine Elect, in whom my Soul delighteth; I have put my Spirit upon him, and He ſhall bring forth Judgment to the Gentiles. O now, reaſon from all, and you will not be able to expreſs this Love of God, in giving the Lord Jeſus Chriſt as he did; O admirable Love!
Secondly, Conſider to what God gave him.
1. To Death; Phil. 2.8. And being found in faſhion as a man, he humbled himſelf, and became obedient unto Death, even the Death of the Croſs. O could not he have given him to ſuffering, and not to death? O what Love muſt that be, that did and could cauſe God thus to overlook, as it were, the Love and care of Chriſt's Life, and thus to give him to death.
2. The Death of the Croſs; Phil. 2.8. And being found in faſhion as a man, he humbled himſelf, and became obedient unto Death, even the Death of the Croſs; and Gal. 3.13. Chriſt hath redeemed us from the Curſe of the Law, being made a Curſe for us; as it is written, Curſed is every one that hangeth on a Tree; the moſt contemptible Death that could be, a curſed Death, a ſhameful diſhonourable Death. O ſee what bleſſed Love was here ſhewed, in this curſed and ſhameful Death.
3. Not only to death, and the death of the Croſs, but to all the Aggravations that could poſſibly accompany either. As thus;
1. He ſuffered as a Sinner in the higheſt ſence: 1 Cor. 15.3. For I delivered unto you, firſt of all, that which I alſo received, How that Chriſt dyed for our Sins, according to the Scriptures; and in the 2 Cor. 5.21. For he hath made him to be ſin for us, who knew no ſin, that we might be made the Righteouſneſs of God in him. Sins make ſuffering unſufferable, elſe it is but a chaſtiſment if ſin be not in it; but if it be, then it is a puniſhment: yet even ſo muſt our dear Chriſt ſuffer as a fruit of the Fathers Love.
2d Aggravation, was the exerciſe of God's Rage, Fury and Wrath in the Law againſt Sin; this, O this in the higheſt of it, was Chriſt given up to in his Death; Iſa. 63.3. I have trodden the Wine-Preſs alone, and there was none to help; for I will tread them in mine Anger, and trample them in my Fury, and their Blood ſhall be ſprinkled upon my Garments, and I will ſtain all my rayment.
3. It was to, and by, the worſt of Executors: For Firſt, They were his Enemies. Secondly, Their envy was in them, as Profeſſors under the Notion of Religion; Wrath covered with Zeal is implacable, and ſuch are the worſt of Enemies; that Envy is the worſt, and where that is, there is no pitty: no more had they of our dear Saviour; Iſa. 50.6. I gave my back to the Smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair; I hid not my face from ſhame and ſpitting: Apply Mat. 27.
4. In the higheſt of his Sufferings, when he was on the Croſs, in the ſence of his Sufferings, God did appear to forſake him; Mat. 27.46. And about the ninth hour, Jeſus cryed with a loud voice, Eli, Eli, lamaſabachthani; that is to ſay, My God, my God, why haſt thou forſaken me? O to loſe ſight and ſence of Preſence, is ſad: Suffering in it ſelf is ſufficient to ſink down a ſoul; but to loſe Preſence in the midſt and heighth of Sufferings, doth ſadly aggravate it: yet this muſt dear Chriſt be given up to. O what Love is there in God! O unſpeakable Love to poor Sinners! that to accompliſh their good and ſafety, his Son muſt thus ſuffer, and be thus forſaken.
The third thing in order is, How God gave him up.
1. Freely; for he was not ſought to by any for Chriſt thus to be given up, nor no purchaſe ſhould have been given, if he had been ſo offered; but God doth it freely: In Iſa. 50.2. Wherefore when I came, there was no man; when I called, there was none to anſwer. Is my hand ſhortned at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? &c. And chap. 63.5. And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own Arm brought Salvation unto me, and my Fury it upheld me. Beſides, all his Tearms in his Tenders of this dear Chriſt, are free.
2. As he did it freely as to us, ſo he did it with the greateſt ſeverity as to him; and that you will ſee, if you conſider theſe Scriptures; Iſa. 53.4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. applyed with Mat. 27. from the 29, to the 50, verſe, and Rom. 8.32. He that ſpared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all; how ſhall he not with him alſo freely give us all things? And in that 8th of the Romans, conſider what it is; for God not to ſpare his Son, as the Word is, He Spared not his Son.
1ſt. Not to Spare, implies or ſignifies the higheſt Severity of Juſtice; Deut. 13.8. Thou ſhalt not conſent unto him, nor hearken unto him, neither ſhall thine eye pitty him, neither ſhalt thou Spare, neither ſhalt thou conceal him; Iſa. 13.18. Their Bowes alſo ſhall daſh the young men to pieces, and they ſhall have no pitty on the Fruit of the Womb, their eyes ſhall not ſpare Children.
2dly. It's to let out Juſtice upon one without the leaſt exerciſe of pitty, or any reluctancy, or roulings of bowels of compaſſion. See Jer. 13.14. And I will daſh them one againſt another, even the Father and the Sons together, I will not pitty, nor Spare, nor have mercy, but deſtroy them; Ezek. 7.4, 8, 9. In the 4th verſe, And mine eye ſhall not Spare thee, neither will I have pitty, but I will recompence thy wayes upon thee, and thine abomination ſhall be in the midſt of thee, and ye ſhall know that I am the Lord. In … Now will I ſhortly pour out … and accompliſh mine Anger upon … …dge thee according to thy wayes, and will recompence thee for all thy abominations. In the 9th verſe, And mine eye ſhall not Spare thee, neither will I pitty thee; I will recompence thee according to thy wayes, and thine abominations that are in the midſt of thee, and ye ſhall know that I am the Lord that ſmiteth: And in Ezek. 9.5. And to the others he ſaid in mine hearing, Go ye after them through the City, and ſmite; let not your eye Spare, neither have ye pitty.
3dly, It implies a laying aſide all regard or reſpect to the party ſuffering. See this word ſo expreſt, Job 30.10. They abhor me, they flee far from me, they Spare not to ſpit in my face. And as it was there with Job, ſo it was with Chriſt. Iſa. 50.6. I gave my back to the S…irters, and ny cheeks to them that plucked off the hair; I h… not my face from ſhame and ſpitting. Apply to this Mat. 27.
From all this, if you conſider it, you will ſee, it was from God upon Chriſt, with the greateſt Severity that could be.
3. God did not only give him unto us freely (as to Chriſt) with the greateſt ſeverity, but he did it delightfully: Iſa. 53.10. Yet it pleaſed the Lord to bruiſe him, he hath put him to grief: when thou ſhalt make his ſoul, an offering for ſin, he ſhall ſee his Seed, he ſhall prolong his dayes, and the Pleaſure of the Lord ſhall proſper in his hand … to give up the Son … death, to accompliſh … Life for poor Sinners.
4. He did it ſelf-… … himſelf and to Chriſt; and he did it ſo, as admitting of no reaſoning from himſelf, or any way of repining, or minding the loſs of his Sons Life; and as to Chriſt; he might have ſaid as David, O my Son, my only Son; O ſhall I give my Son for Sinners, my Friend for my Enemies! he never ſeems to give way to any ſuch diſcourſe or reaſoning, but denies all to accompliſh his Love for loſt Creatures. Nay, Chriſt might have ſaid to his Father, What doſt thou find in me word … Death? if not, how can it ſtan… … 24.16. The Fathers … Death for the Children; neither ſhall … put to Death for the Fathers, every … ſhall he put to Death for his own ſin. 2 Kings 14.6. But the Children of the Mu… … according unto that which is w… … of the Law of Moſes, wherein … … ded, ſaying, The Father ſ… … for the Children, nor th… … death for their Fathers; but every man ſhall be put to death for his own ſin. Beſides Father, there is rouling of thy Bowels to others; as in Hoſ. 11.8. How ſhall I give thee up, Ephraim? how ſhall I deliver thee, Iſrael? how ſhall I make thee as Admah? how ſhall I ſet thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together: And in Jer. 31.20, 21. Is Ephraim my dear Son, is he a pleaſant Child? for ſince I ſpake againſt him, I do earneſtly remember him ſtill; therefore my bowels are troubled for him: I will ſurely have mercy upon him, ſaith the Lord. Verſe 21. Set thee up waymarks, make thee high heaps, ſet thine heart toward the High-way, even the Way which thou wenteſt; turn again, O Virgin of Iſrael, turn again to theſe thy Cities. What! is there none for me? None of this is mentioned, but all laid aſide to accompliſh this rich admirable and unexpreſſible Love; ſo it was done ſelf-denyingly,
The fourth thing is, For whom he gave him.
1. He gave him for Sinners; Rom. 5.8. But God commendeth his Love towards us, in that while we were yet Sinners, Chriſt dyed for us: And in 1 Tim. 1.15. This is a faithful Saying, and worthy of all acceptation, That Chriſt Jeſus came into the world to ſave Sinners; of whom I am the chief.
2. Ungodly; Rom. 4.5. But to him that worketh not, but beleiveth on him that juſtifieth the Ungodly, his Faith is counted for Righteouſneſs
3. For Enemies; Rom. 5.10. For if while we were Enemies, we were reconciled to God by the Death of his Son; much more being reconciled, we ſhall be ſaved by his Life.
4. The worſt of ſinners; 1 Tim. 1.15. This is a faithful Saying, and worthy of all acceptation, That Chriſt Jeſus came into the world to ſave Sinners; of whom I am chief.
5. It was for the Rebellious, and Blaſphemers, and ſuch as cauſed others to blaſpheme; Pſal. 68.18. Acts 26.1, 8.1 Tim. 1.13. O this heightens God's Love: O rich Love! God loves them that hate him.
The fifth thing is, God's End in giving his Son.
1. It was to reconcile poor loſt Sinners to himſelf; 2 Cor. 5.19, 20. To wit, that God was in Chriſt, reconciling the World unto himſelf, not imputing their Treſpaſſes unto them; and hath committed unto us, the Word of Reconciliation. Verſe 20. Now then we are Embaſſadors for Chriſt, as though God did beſeech you by us, we pray you in Chriſt's ſtead, be ye reconciled to God. And in Col. 1.20. And having made Peace through the Blood of his Croſs, by him to reconcile all things unto himſelf, by him, I ſay, whether they be things in Earth, or things in Heaven. Surely God doth highly prize this, that he doth purchaſe it at ſo high a rate. O ſee, ſee poor Sinner; it was not only to accompliſh Reconciliation with him, but us to him; it was not his gain, but our gain, and his loſs; O what rich Love is here! God ſeeks a way for us, and then ſeeks to us.
2. His End was to overcome and conquer, that or them, that would have deſtroyed us: As firſt, Sin; Rom. 7.24, 25. O wretched man that I am, who ſhall deliver me from the body of this death? and in verſe 25. I thank God through Jeſus Chriſt our Lord. So then, with the mind I ſerve the Law of God, but with the fleſh the Law of ſin. Secondly, The Law; Gal. 2.19. For through the Law, I am dead to the Law, that I might live unto God: Rom. 8.2. For the Law of the Spirit of Life in Chriſt Jeſus, hath made me free from the Law of Sin and Death. Thirdly, Death; 1 Cor. 15.55, 56. O Death, where is thy ſting? O Grave, where is thy victory? The ſting of Death is Sin, and the ſtrength of Sin is the Law. Fourthly, The World; John 16.33. Theſe things have I ſpoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace; in the World ye ſhall have tribulation: but be of good chear, I have overcome the World. Fifthly, The Devil. In 1 John 3.8. For this purpoſe the Son of God was manifeſted, that he might deſtroy the Works of the Devil. O what an End is that! O reckon every End, and they all end in one End for us poor Sinners.
3. His End was, To bring up poor Souls as into Union, ſo into Communion with himſelf, and Son, in all their Light, Life, Love and Glory; John 17.21. That they all may be one, as thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they alſo may be one in us; that the World may believe that thou haſt ſent Me: ver. 22. And the Glory which thou gaveſt me, I have given them, that they may be one as We are one: verſe 23. I in Them, and Thou in Me, that They may be made perfect in One, and that the World may know that Thou haſt ſent Me, and haſt loved Them as thou haſt loved Me. Apply 1 John 1.3. and 1 Pet. 1.3, 4, &c.
4. His End was, That we might have nothing to hinder our Faith and Confidence in Him, in our appeals and approaches to him. Heb. 4.16. Let us therefore come boldly unto the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain Mercy, and find Grace to help in time of need. And in Epheſ. 3.12. In whom we have boldneſs, and acceſs with confidence by the Faith of him. O mind theſe Scriptures, poor Soul; if thou wanteſt Faith, go, O go, in the Faith of Jeſus. It is and was God's great care, that poor ſouls, though never ſo poor, might come to him with boldneſs without fear.
If any ſhould demand the Reaſons why God takes this way, to manifeſt his rich Love by.
Anſwer, For theſe Reaſons.
1ſt. Reaſon. There was an abſolute neceſſity lay upon it; for there was not another way to accompliſh Salvation for Sinners, and ſatisfie divine Juſtice. Iſa. 63.5. And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own Arm ſhall bring Salvation, &c. And by this, Free-Grace is diſplayed gloriouſly.
2d. Reaſon. That it might appear, as to be an act of God's Wiſdom, ſo ſingularly an act of Love; which other wayes could not have been, had not all other things in the world have been loſt and overlooked.
3d. Reaſon. That all fleſh may be ſilent and brought to lye down and confeſs it to be a work only of God, in that none but God could have done it: See Rom. 3. at large; and ſee chapt. 4. at large, where this rich Work of Love is fully related, and debated; and this as a Reaſon aſſerted.
Now for the Improvements of this rich Soul-ſupporting Truth, mind in theſe Uſes.
1ſt. Uſe, To inform us of the great Wiſdom, Love and Grace of God to poor Sinners, which is ſo fully made out in this Act of God, in giving his Son in this manner. O go over all the Particulars, and you muſt ſay with the Apoſtle, O the heighth and depth of God's Love! Epheſ. 3.18, 19. Rom. 11.33.
2dly, To inform us what poor Man had been, had God left him in his loſt eſtate, or left him to have found out a way to have ſaved himſelf.
3dly, If this be ſo, as hath been fully proved, of this rich admirable and unexpreſſible Love of God in giving his Son; then this may aſſure us in general, That God cannot, nor will not, withhold any good thing from us, but with Chriſt will give us all things: It's the very uſe Paul makes of this Truth, in Rom. 8.32. where he ſaith, He that ſpared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how ſhall he not with him alſo freely give us all things? O poor ſouls, conſider this, and mind it well, in all ſtates and ſtraits, beleive what God ſaith: and conſider and reaſon with thy ſoul thus,
Do I want this or that? well, did God give me his Son, the greater, and will he withhold the leſſer? No, no.
Now mind ſome Particulars: As,
1. We may from this be certain, of God's Satisfaction by Chriſt for all Sin; for ſure God would never have done this, had or could there have been a Diſ-ſatisfaction to have over-ballanced his Satisfaction. Mind theſe Scriptures, Mat. 13.11, &c. Epheſ. 5.27. O ſee Heb. 10.10, 12, 14, 17, verſes; and you will ſee this made clear.
2. To aſſure us of the certainty of poor Souls Salvation, Rom. 5.10. it is there fully aſſerted from this foundation.
3. To aſſure us, That there is no Enemy left unconquered; for had any thing been too ſtrong for God, this work could not have been accompliſhed; but nothing could, nor was too ſtrong for God, neither Sin, as Rom. 7. nor Law, nor Death, nor World, nor Devil; and if ſo, look upon, and encounter with all theſe as conquered before, you encounter.
4. It's to aſſure us, That the Foundation of Salvation is more ſure, than to ſtand upon ſuch a weak changeable foundation as our duties or goodneſs is; It's done only and ſingly by God, and the Foundation is as ſure as he is; 'tis alone his rich Love and unchangeable Grace in Chriſt. See the Text, &c.
5. 'Tis to aſſure us, and that with all clearneſs, That God's Love to the worſt of Sinners, is as great as to Jeſus Chriſt: Seeing all this God gave up Chriſt to, was to accompliſh not his, but their good, ſee John 17.23, 24, 26.1 Tim. 13.14. O what Comfort is here to a poor ſoul! conſider what dear, what rich, what delightful Love was there, and is there in God for Chriſt; and what will this Love carry God to do for Chriſt? do but mind it, and then conſider, that that Love, the ſame Love, with all its Riches, with all its Strength, with all its movings, is in the heart of God for me. O ſoul, lye down and admire this Love!
6. To aſſure us, That as God's Love was not cauſed by us, nor moved, or brought forth from any cauſe in us, ſo it cannot be changed or deſtroyed by us; certainly if Sins foreſeen, would not, nor could not keep God from giving Chriſt, ſure when they are brought forth, they cannot turn God and Chriſt from loving of us.
7. To aſſure us, in way of Comfort, That the whole, and full, and ſole work of ſuffering for Sin, and ſatisfying of Juſtice for Sin, is done by Chriſt; ſo that, what ſorrows and ſufferings do attend Saints, there is no ſuch end produced by it, as to ſatisfie unſatisfied Juſtice; but all that befals Saints, are Fruits of Love, to put away Sin, Iſa. 26.9. and to give down more Grace, Rom. 5, &c.
8. It is furthermore to aſſure us, and that of Certainty, from all that hath been ſaid, That there is a willingneſs in God, not only to ſave, but to receive poor Sinners into his Grace and Favour, or elſe he would never have given ſo much to accompliſh it: all his Coſt and Labour declares this; which you will fully ſee, if you go over all that hath bee ſaid. And further, to convince a poor ſad ſighing Soul of this Truth, conſider;
1ſt. Upon what terms God tenders his Love in Chriſt, ſee Prov. 9.4. Iſa. 55.1. Joh. 7.34. Rev. 22.17, &c. all is Free.
2dly, See how God doth beſeech & intreat, and woo ſouls to entertain and accept this Love in Chriſt, Iſa. 65.2 Cor. 9.10. Mat. 23.…7.
3dly. Conſider how long God waits upon poor ſouls for their receiving and entertaining of this Love, though he meets with many Repulſes, Iſa. 65.2 Cor. 5.5. Jer. 15.6.
4thly. Conſider how much God bemoans the creature that neglects to imbrace this Tender, Jer. 2.14. Mat. 23.37.
5thly. Conſider, that after ſouls have ſlighted God's Grace, and turned their back upon his Tenders, and abuſed his Long-ſuffering and Forbearance; yet if at laſt they return, how joyfully doth he entertain them, and not upbraid them. See Jer. 31.20. Luke 15.20. Jam. 1.5.
Further, If thou wouldſt ſee God's willingneſs to meet with thy deſire and willingneſs, minde theſe Conſiderations.
Firſt, Conſider, God is ſo willing, that he woos us to be willing, as I ſaid before.
2dly. No ſoul is willing ſo ſoon, but God's willingneſs was before him, and his willingneſs is a fruit of God's.
3dly. No ſoul was ever willing, and God or Chriſt unwilling; Joh. 6.37. If an… come unto Chriſt, he will in no wiſe caſt hi… …ut.
4thly. God is willing when we are not willing.
5thly. Conſider, That when God's willingneſs hath begun to beget in a ſo… willingneſs, if the ſouls willingneſs makes him go, God runs; and if it makes the ſoul only ſay, I will, God ſaith, I do, Pſal. 32.5. O know, ſoul, that it is not poſſible for a ſoul to be really willing to be ſaved, and God not to ſave it! Did we know what is in God, by what is done by God, eſpecially in giving of his Son, we ſhould believe more, and fear; and ſin leſs.
There were many more Particulars that I obſerved from this Text, but I have not time now to relate them; only theſe I thought good, in this my time of Confinement to write over, in anſwer to your deſire; And I wiſh God may afford you as much comfort from them, as he hath to me. Amen, Amen.