The Abuse of Gods Grace, Chapter 5 · Section 11
SECT. 11.
THe third head of cauſes, why the Grace of God is abuſed, Sect. 11. The grace of God is abuſed by Preſumption.is Preſumption, this alſo I ſhall branch out in five things.
1. The Preſumption of a Prepoſterous Confidence in Gods mercy, this hath begotten carnall ſecurity, and ſtrengthened the hands of wickedneſſe. Dreames of mercy have been the bane of duty, Patrons of looſeneſſe, and ſoft pillowes for delicate wantons to ſleep on. God is good, God is mercifull, and therefore the old man dares be ſinfull; as if God were not a prudent and pure diſpenſer, but careleſſe prodigall of his rich mercies: he is beleeved to waſt them on the Devills ſervice, and to rain down their Heavenly ſhowers, upon a barren wilderneſſe, an unfruitfull Profeſſion. But where have we a word in ſacred Writ, that the ſervant of ſin muſt firſt be confident of Gods mercy? Did Bone Deus, miſericors Deus faciam quod mihi liber Aug.eyer mercy priviledge and owne a loſt ſinner but on its owne termes? Tis true, mercy is to be found to the praiſe of the glory, not the infamy of mercy, as a cordiall to the fainting, a plaiſter to the wounded ſinner, a ſpur to ſervice, not a Feaſt to riot on, when looſe Libertines take not mercy (the childrens bread) by Gods allowance, but like Dogs, endeavour to get it from his Table, and are cudgelled off from it: did they ſeriouſly conſider the way of obtaining mercy, the Leſſons mercy teacheth, the evidence of mercies poſſeſſion, the Diſtinction mercy maketh, the reputation mercy muſt have in the world, they would ſoon be convinced, they are at as infinite a diſtance from mercy as they are from innocency and duty.
O that all looſe Libertines that feaſt their luſts at mercies Table; and that commit this ſpirituall Burglary, of breaking into Gods houſe, to ſnatch away his mercy, would lay to heart five things.
1. They are not yet in the way of obtaining mercy, they underſtand not the method of mercy. As that 1. Chriſt is the mercy ſeat, the Throne of mercy, a mercifull High Prieſt, the great High Steward that gives out Almes of mercy, and gives it to Subjects fit to receive it. 2. That none enjoy it bit themthat are deeply ſencible of their miſery by ſin, deſpaire of mercy by any but Jeſus Chriſt. 3. That the obtainers of mercy are ſtil knockingat the beautifullgate of mercy, get Heaven by violence, wraſtle for a Coelum tundimus Deum tangimus miſericordiam extor …uemus Tertul. Apol. c. 40.ſmile, a word, a Dole of mercy, as the Chriſtians did in Tertullians time, We ſtrike at Heaven (ſayd hee) with our deſires: We are cloſe ſuiters to God, we pull down mercy from him, as Jacob did, that wrought hard in prayer for mercy, as the importunate Woman was, Jesus thou Son of David have mercy on me, ſpeeders for mercy are not cold, careleſſe, indifferent Suiters. 4. That mercy receivers are humble, ſelfe-abaſing, condemning Soliciters, wonder they are not in Hell paſt mercy, and the asking of it, like the Servants of Benhadad that came with ropes about their necks, at once confeſſing their deſerts, & wooing the favours of a mercifull King. 5. That the priviledged owners of mercy, in an holy importunity will hear no …ay, but ſtill lay proſtrate before the Father of mercies, untill he ſhew mercy, Pſa. 123. 2. A ſweet warme looke of mercy beaming upon a cold fainting ſoule; the ordinary invaders of Gods mercy, who are not ſo much the Almes-men as the Theeves of mercy, aſcend not to the Mount of merciemercy by mercies ſtaires: but feed on a preſumptuous fancy of mercy, wantonize with it, and have no ſaving part in it.
1. They learn not the Leſſons mercy teacheth, in ſpeciall two, Reſignation, and Subjection. 1. Reſignation, the giving upthe whole perſon in a reall gratitude to Gods ſervice, who inſtead of a wonder of mercy, might have made the provoking ſinner a Monument of vengeance. I beſeech you by the mercies of God, give up your bodies, &c. Pom. 12. 1. 2. Subjection, As many as walke according to this rule mercy be on them, Gal. 6. 16. Every mercy ſaith, be dutifull; but choice, ſaving mercy calls for regular walking. Thoſe licencious daring ones that challenge mercy, ſay with thoſe in Jeremiah, We are Lords, we will not come to thee, are their own Maſters, live as they liſt, know no Law but their Luſts, were never Schollars well trained up in the School of mercy.
3. They have no evidence of mercies poſſeſſion, the fear of God is this great evidence, The mercy of God is from everlaſting to everlaſting on them that fear him. pſal. 103. 17. Gods feare ſtands between two happy Eternities of mercy, as the faire mark of both; the decree of mercy from Eternity, the enjoyment of mercy to Eternity is the ſure Felicity of all that fear God. O falſhood, folly, madneſſe! Too many that neither feare God nor ſin, conclude a part in the mercy of the Booke of life, and looke for the endleſſe mercy, of the other world, and by the prefamed licenſe of mercy, live wickedly.
4. They ſtudy not the diſtinction, mercy maketh, ſurely all deſigned for mercy, are veſſells of mercy, all that are, and ſhall be without it, are veſſells of wrath: an unchanged heart, and unreformed life under mercy maketh no difference between the perſons of mercy and wrath. If veſſells of mercy may be Libertines, they & veſſells of wrath both wil be carnall walkers, mercy & duty, wrath & ſin, wil be an everlaſting diſtinction between the heirs of Heaven, and the purchaſers of Hell. Veſſells of wrath will be Libertines if veſſells of mercy are ſo too, the one is as good as the other.
5. They bring not Gods mercy in Reputation in the world, what honour hath God in pretenders to mercy, that abuſe his Grace? They who are deſigned to mercy, are veſſells of honour. 2 Tim. 2. 21. Not only to import they are called to honourable priviledges, but honourable ſervices: As God honours them in holding out his golden Scepter of mercy to them, ſo they are to honour God in being glorious within, and wearing without the golden apparrel of an heavenly ſhining converſation, pſ. 45. 13. paul obtained ſaving mercy, he was an high & eminent veſſell of Honour, and he honourably uſed his mercy to the praiſe of its Author, I obtained mercy, and the Grace of God was abundant in me through Faith and Love. 1 Tim. 1. 13. 14. The garment of mercy God beſtowed on him, was honourably and richly adorned by ſanctifying grace. Licentious Profeſſors do not honour but caſt dirt upon the Robe of mercy; were it not for preſumptions of mercy, falſe Chriſtians would not ſo play the wantons under Goſpell Profeſſion. Did they think and ſpeak the truth in our unregenerate hypocriticall and profane Eſtates, that there is no mercy for us, we are children of Wrath, if we live and dye ſo, we periſh, this would damp the pleaſing merry fits of ſin, if this do not turn them Heavenwards, it will force upon them inward gripes and conſcience pangs in the way to Hell. The ſame prophet that ſayes, There is no peace to the wicked, Ifa. 57. 21. ſayes alſo, He that made them, will ſhew no mercy to them. Ifa. 27. 11.