A treatise on comforting afflicted consciences - The Digital Puritan

!AFFLICTED CONSCIENCES. 287he, " forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts "(and this is thy case ; thou art unfeignedly set against allsin, both inward and outward), *' and let him return untothe Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to ourGod, for he will abundantly pardon " (ver. 7). He willnot only have mercy upon thee, but he will also abundantlypardon. He will multwl.y his pardons according to thy provocations,and that with superabundance (Kom. v, 20).4. If all this will not yet do, he descends, out of the infiniteriches of his grace, to a miracle of further mercy. Forthe mighty Lord of heaven and earth sends ambassadorsunto us, dust and ashes, worms and no men, to beseech usto be reconciled unto him. " Now then we are ambassadorsfor Christ, as though God did beseech you by us; we prayyou, in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled unto God " (2 Cor.V, 20). What man can possibly ponder seriously upon thisplace, but must be transported with extraordinary admiration; nay, adoration of the bottomless depth and infiniteheight of God's incomprehensible, everlasting, and freelove ! We most abhorred, vile wretches, are the offenders,traitors, rebels, and enemies, and ought to seek and sue untohim fi.rst upon the knees of our souls, trembling in the dust,and, if it were possible, with tears of blood. And yet hebegins unto us, entreating us by his own Son, and his servants,the ministers, to come in, accept his favour and grace,enter into the wise and good way, which is precious, profitable,honourable, and pleasant ; that he may hereafter setupon our heads everlasting crowns of glory and bliss. Anearthly prince would disdain and hold it in foul scorn tosend unto his inferior for reconcilement, especially whohad behaved himself basely and unv/orthily towards him,and justly provoked his royal indignation. It is thus indeedwith worms of the earth, " in whom there is no help," andwhose breath is in their nostrils. But it is otherwise withthe King of kings, " who sitteth upon the circle of theearth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers, andthe nations as the drop of a bucket ; who bringeth thepririces to nothing, and maketh the judges of the earth asvanity." He is content to put up at our hands this indignityand affront, if I may so speak. He is glad to sue untous first, and send his ambassadors day after day, beseechingus to be reconciled unto him. O incomprehensible depth ofunspeakable mercy and encouragement to come in and trustin his mercy in case of spiritual misery, able to trampleunder foottriumphantly all oppositions of the most raginghell or distrustful heart5. Nay, he commands us "; and this is his command-