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6. THe Vigour of our Affections and Actions should be some∣what answerable to the great cost bestowed upon us,* 1.1 and to the deep engaging mercies which we have received from God. Surely we owe more service to our Master from whom we have
our maintenance, then we do to a stranger to whom we never were beholden. Oh the cost that God hath been at for our sakes! The riches of Sea and Land, of Heaven and Earth, hath he powred out unto us. All our lives have been filled up with Mercies: We can∣not look back upon one hour of it, or one passage in it, but we may behold Mercy. We feed upon Mercy; we wear Mercy on our backs, we tread upon Mercy: Mercy within us, common and spe∣cial; Mercy without us, for this life, and for that to come: Oh the rare Deliverances that we have partaked of! both national and personal! How oft, how seasonably, how fully have our prayers been heard, and our fears removed? What large Catalogues of par∣ticular Mercies can every Christian draw forth and reherse? To offer to number them, would be an endless task, as to number the stars, or the sands of the shore. If there be any difference betwixt Hell (where we should have been) and Earth, (where we now are) yea or Heaven, (which is offered us) then certainly we have re∣ceived Mercy. Yea, if the Blood of the Son of God be Mercy, then are we engaged to God by Mercy; for so much did it cost him to recover us to himself. And should a people of such deep engagements be lazy in their returns? Shall God think nothing too much nor too Good for us; and shall we think all too much that we do for him? Thou that art an observing sensible man, who knowest how much thou art beholden to God, I appeal to thee: Is not a loytering performance of a few heartless duties, an unworthy requital of such admirable kindness? For my own part, when I compare my slow and unprofitable life, with the frequent and wonderful mercies received, it shames me, it silenceth me, and leaves me unexcusable.
§. 7.