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And so you have the first meditation. The se∣cond must be of the infi∣nite mercies of God in Christ, who is gratiously ready in him, the Sonne of his loves, to accept of every sinner that re∣nouncing himselfe, and all his owne righteous∣nesse, doth flie wholy to
him for refuge. For the Lord is a God, gratious & mercifull, slowe to anger, abundant in kindnesse and truth, reserving mercy for thousands, forgiving ini∣quity, transgression and sinne. His mercy is as high above us as heaven is above the earth. He will abundantly forgive, and his waies are not as our waies, nor his thoughts as our thoughts, for as the hea∣vens are higher then the earth, so are his waies higher then our waies, and his thoughts above our thoughts. Yea hee hath multitude of tender
compassions, and is rich in mercy to all that call up∣on him, and his mercy endureth for ever. You see by these words of Scripture what store of mercy there is in God, and what quantity of compassion poore sin∣ners that are humbled, must looke to finde with him. Now consider further, what is this mer∣cy and compassion of God? Doubtlesse it is a willingnesse, prompt∣nesse, readinesse, for∣wardnesse, full reso∣lution to accept of miserable sinners that
have made themselves most wretched by their sinnes, and to relieve their miseries when they humbly stoope unto him. Mercy is not an ability to pardon and helpe if one will, but a willingnesse to helpe and pardon when one is able. Wee doe not call him a merci∣full man, that could help a poore distressed person if he would, but it is not his pleasure so to doe, for so it may be with a most cruell and hard hearted fellow. The most rigo∣rous and exating rich Usurer, could forgive
his debtor (that is a banckerout and can pay him nothing) if hee would, but he will not though he can, and ther∣fore doth not deserve to be called mercifull. The most fierce and furious tyrant might forgive his subject, if he would, that hath offended, but be∣cause he is not willing, therefore no man styles him pitifull and grati∣ous. So neither were the God of heaven full of grace, mercy and com∣passion, if onely he were able to forgive humbled sinners, and would not;
that were not mercy I say, that were not com∣passion, but this is grace, this is compassion. He is willing to receive the humbled wretch, he is ready to forgive, and fully resolved with him∣selfe to blot out all his sinnes from his remem∣brance, bee they what they will for number or haighnousnes, when once he converteth unto him. Now therefore that thou knowest the store of mercy that is in God, and also what mercy is. Compare thy sinnes also to Gods mercy, and see
if they can be in any sort equall thereunto. For are not his mercies in Christ infinite, endlesse, boundlesse, and there∣fore farre surpassing all the sinnes of all sinners, which bee they, what they can be, for weight and number, yet doubt∣lesse infinite they cannot bee.
Thou seest how great a thing this globe of earth and water seemeth to be to them that walke upon it, yet in compari∣son of the heavenly spheare that doth incom∣passe it, what is it else, but
a poynt, a prick, a center, a thing of nothing, that holdeth no proportion to those higher regions, and know assuredly, that there is no more propor∣tion betwixt all the sins of all men, and Gods mercies, then betwixt the poynt of earth, and the circumference of the skies. He is willing to pardon more then all of them can commit, and therefore onely they bee not pardoned, because they will not humble themselves to seeke par∣don. Thus then must thou raise up thy falling
heart, I have to doe with a most infinitely mercifull and tender hearted Father, that doth not desire the death of him that dieth, but is ten thousand thousand times more willing to give me pardon then I am to crave or accept it. It pleaseth him more to bestow forgivenesse, then me to receive it. O doe not so great an in∣jury to God, as to set any bounds and limits to his goodnesse, to diminish or detract from the boundlesnesse of his compassion, to thinke
that thou canst possibly exceed his goodnesse with thy badnesse, but go unto him and acknow∣ledge, saying, O Lord, the multitude of thy mercies doe farre sur∣mount the multitude of my rebellions, O there∣fore be gratious to mee according to the multi∣tude of thy mercies, and so thou shalt bee safe.
But thou wilt say perhaps how can I tell that God will shew mercy to me? I answer, Art not thou one of those to whom he hath sealed up mercy
in baptisme? yea but thou wilt say, many are baptized that never finde mercy. I answer, not one that in sence of want of mercy, and in a perswa∣sion that God can bee mercifull to him, doth seeke to the throne of grace for it. And for a fuller answer to this doubt, now proceed to the third meditation.
Exod. 14 6.
Psal 103 11.
Isa. 55.7, 2, 9.
Rom. 10 12.