Right Thoughts, Part 2 · Section 29
Sect. XXIX.
Gods goodneſs in the NEW COVENANT.BUt and if thou thinkeſt hardly of Gods Dealing with Men fallen under the firſt Covenant, the Covenant of Works, O buſie thy thoughts ſo much the more on the New Covenant, and ſurely thou canſt not but cry,Heb. 8.8. Of GRACE. Zech. 4.7. Math. 22.8. Chap. 11.28. 1 King. 21.16. Verſe 6. grace, grace unto it. O this is that where none are excluded, but ſelf-excluders, nor counted unworthy, but thoſe that are unwilling: where the worſt are invited, and the moſt heavy laden beſt welcomed: where Sinks of Sin (as Manaſſeth an Idolater and a Conjurer, who filled Jeruſalem with blood) are made veſſels of mercy prepared unto glory: where Manſion-Houſes of Devils (as Mary Magdalen) become Temples of the Holy Ghoſt, Mark 16.9. Acts 9.15. Iſaiah 11.6.Habitations of God through the Spirit; where Perſecutors (as Saul) become Preachers of Righteouſneſs, and the Wolf dwells with the Lamb, and the Leopard lies down with the Kid, and the Cal… with the Lyon, and the little Child doth lead them, &c.Acts 2.23. Where cruel Jewes are ſaved by the Blood that they ſhed, and by putting forth an hand of Faith to take hold on him whom themſelves had taken before,1 Cor. 6.9, 10, 11. and by wicked hands had Crucified and ſlain: And where Sinners of the Gentiles, Fornicators, Idolaters, Adulterers, Effeminate perſons, Abuſers of themſelves with Mankind, Theeves, Covetous, Drunkards, Raylers, Extortioners, are waſhed, are ſanctified, are juſtified in the Name of the Lord Jeſus, and by the Spirit of our God. Where blemiſhes are no bar to admiſſion to the Marriage-Supper of the King, but the Poor and the Maimed, Luke 14.11. Verſe 23.and the Halt and the Blind are entertained, yea the very Hedge-rows are ſearched, and the very Vagabonds, and High-way-men are compelled to come in. Iſa. 35.5, 6, 8.Where the eyes of the Blind ſee out of obſcurity, and the ears of the Deaf are opened, and the Lame Man leaps as an Hart, and the Tongue of the Dumb doth ſing; Where the way-faring Man though a fool doth not err; and they that erred in ſpirit come to underſtanding, Iſaiah 29 24. Job 33.27, 28.and they that murmure… to learn Doctrine, Where God looketh upon men, and if any ſay I have ſinned, and perverted that which was Right, and it profited me not, He will deliver him from going down into the pit, and his Life ſhall ſee the light. Where Light is given to them that ſit in Darkneſs, Luke 1.79.and in the ſhadow of Death; and where Iniquity is forgiven, and Sin is Remembred no more. Heb. 8.12. Free Grace.In the Firſt Covenant God was good to Mans Righteouſneſs; in this New Covenant He is merciful to his unrighteouſneſs; In that He was Preſerver of the Innocent,H…ſea 14.5. Rom. 5.8. in this a Reſtorer of Revolters, an Healer of Back-ſliders, a Lover of Enemies, a well-willer to Evil-doers. O this is Mercy, tender mercy of our God whereby the day-ſpring from on high hath viſited us, Luke 2.14. Luke 1.78, 79. Rom. 3.12, 16, 17. Verſe 24. Verſe 25.to guide our feet into the way of peace, who were all gone out of the way, and were altogether become unprofitable, but deſtruction and miſery were in our wayes, and the way of Peace we knew not. O this is Grace, Free Grace, through the Redemption that is in Jeſus Chriſt, whom God hath ſet forth to be a propitiation, &c. willing it ſeems to gain all ſorts of Buyers, though without money and without price, Iſaiah 55.1.as the Salesman is who ſets forth his Wares to invite Cuſtomers whom He hopes moſt to get by, whereas all that He expects from us is but our taking what he tenders, and receiving what he gives. O this is Mercy, and rich Mercy, Eph. 2.4. R c… Grace. Verſe 7.and Love, and great love whereby he loved us; O this is Grace, and Riches of Grace, and exceeding riches of Grace in his kindneſs towards us: The Apoſtle ſpeaks of it as if he could never ſpeak enough of it, or high enough of it; and it was not his ſtudy alone, but that about which he declares that all Saints are thoughtful how they may be able to comprehend what is the breadth, Chap. 3.18, 19.and length and depth, and height, and to know this love that paſſeth knowledge. Bredth of Love, covering the multitude of ſins, (as it muſt needs be a broad Plaiſter indeed that muſt cover all our Sores,Iſaiah 1.6. Pſalm 130.1. who from the ſole of the foot, to the head, are nothing but wounds, and ſwellings, and putrifying ſores) Depth of love, reaching us in the Deeps of ſin and miſery,And 40.2. the horrible pit and miry clay: Length of Love, ſtretching its wings from Eternity to Eternity; Eph. 3, 11. 1 Cor. 15.45, 47.and Height of Love, beating ſinners up from Hell to Heaven, and to a more bleſſed and glorious ſtate in the ſecond Adam, than they fell from in the firſt. And O what a Theme for Thoughts is here? Here is Height for the Higheſt; Covenant of GRACE the …mpleſt Theme … though….Depth for the Profoundeſt. Bredth for the largeſt; Length for the longeſt Thoughts Man can poſſibly have, and indeed Thoughts are the largeſt things in the World.