A treatise on comforting afflicted consciences - The Digital Puritan

'AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 175mercy ; but even as the woman, 2 Kings iv, who had nothingto pay was threatened by creditors to take away her twosons, and put them in prison, so we having nothing to pay,the law is let loose upon us, to threaten imprisonment anddamnation-, to affright and terrify, and all this for the manifestingof his justice. Furthermore, the book of God isfull of terrible threatenings against sinners. Now, shall allthose be to no purpose? The wicked are insensible of them,to ihem therefore in that respect they are in vain. Somethere must needs be upon whom they must work. *Shallthe lion roar,' saith the prophet, and ' no man be afraid 1Since, then, they who should, will not; some there be whomust tremble. This the prophet excellently setteth forth,Isa. Ixvi, 2, where the Lord showeth whom he will regard.* Bwt to this man will I look, even to him that is poor, andof a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.' Neither isit without good cause that God dealeththus with his own inthis manner, though it be sharp in the experience. First,we must fear, tremble, and be humbled ; and then we shallreceive a spirit not to fear again."(2.) His mercy is also thereby mightily magnified;which would never be so sweet, nor relish so well, nor be soesteemed of us, if the awful terror of justice had notformerly made us smart. A king sometimes doth not onlysuffer the law to pass upon some grievous malefactor forhigh treason, but also causeth him to be brought to the placeof execution, yea, and lay down his head upon the blockere he pardon ; and then mercy is mercy indeed, and meltsthe heart * abundantly with amazement and admirationof it. So God dealeth with us many times ; lets the lawloose against us, puts us in fear, casts us into prison, andthreateneth condemnation in hell for ever ; so that whenmercy cometh to the soul, being now lost in itself and at thepit's brink, it appears to be a wonderful mercy, the richesof exceeding mercy, most seasonable, most sweet, most* A man who otherwise would not cry nor shed a tear for any thing,despiseth death, and would not fear to meet a host of men ; I say, sucha one now having at the last instant a pardon brought from the king, itworkech wonderfully upon him, and will cause softness of heart andtears to come many times where nothing else could. He is so struckwith admiration of so great mercy, so sweet and seasonable in such anextremity, that he stands amazed and knows not what to say ; but manytimes falls to weeping, partly for joy of his deliverance, arid partly alsoout of indignation against himself, 'for his barbarous behaviour towardsso merciful a prince. This was to be seen in some great men, at thebeginning of King James's reign, condemned for treason, and pardonedat the block.