The Conviction of worldly-vanity, or, The wandring prodigal and his return in two parts : part I. containing his debate with himself about his setting forward in search of the palace of worldly felicity ... part II. giving a full account of his miraculous escape from the palace of worldly felicity : deliver'd under the similitude of a wandring youth.

CHAP. V. Remembrance opens her Book and reads him a comfortable Lecture, mostly containing GOD's gracious Promises of Mercy and Forgiveness to true Penitents, and thereby allays his Fears.

REmembrance (whoall this while had stood by) having receiv'd her orders, open'd the Book she had in her Hand, in which I beheld Lines of Gold in Pages of Azure, when touching the Seat of my Mind with a Silver Wand, she thus procceded: Hath Sin (said she) Abounded? Grace hath more abounded: Wherefore he that mistrusteth the Mercies of GOD,

mistrusteth him to ••e M••r••••ful, inju∣••ub the Fountain of Mercy and Good∣••ess, in denying him to be Love and Power; Love, to star him up to compas∣••on, and tender Bowels of Mercy, ••nd Power, to do what seover seemeth ••ood in his own 〈◊〉〈◊〉: and in these con∣••st all the hope of poor Sinners, who had ••ey to do with any but a merciful GOD, must unavoidably Parish; for ••n the strictness of his Justice, the least Sin is Sufficient to Sink a Soul to ••he Depth of M••sery. But that he is Love, Sacred Writ test••••ies, and renders ••t in all th••••••s one of the highest Attri∣••utes of Omnipotency; nor is it in any small degree communicated to mankind, but rather in a most transcendant man∣••er, viz. In this was manifested the Love of GOD towards us, because that GOD sent his only begotten Son into the World that we might Live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved GOD, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be a propitiation for our Sins: Greater Love (says our blessed Saviour) then this has no Man, that a Man should l••y down his Life for his friend: This is the Rock and Anchor hold both of Faith and Hope, for with∣out

out it we must have inevitably perishe•• and the Souls that he has made mus•• have failed before him; that is, of hi•• Mercy had not infinitely out weighe•• his Justice. Nay this blessed Saviou•• not only lay'd down his L••fe for lost an•• and undone Man, and took it up again•• gloriously ascending to the Right Han•• of his Father, but there likewise eve•• liveth to make Intercession for us: Fo•• if any Man Sin we have an Advocat•• with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righ∣teous, and he is the Propitiation for th•• Remission of Sins. Again, Behold (says St. John) what manner of Love the Fa∣ther hath bestowed upon us, that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 should be call'd the Sons of God! not that God has either occasion for us or our Service, for we can in no wise add any thing to his State or Felicity, who is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 finitely happy from all Eternity, beyo•••• Degree or Comparison; but that it i•• his Nature to do good to all his Crea∣tures, and to have Compassion on the Works of his Hands: Wherefore speaking to this purpose by the Prophet Isaiah, h•• says, That it is he himself that blo••teth out our iniquities for his own name•• sake, and that for the Love he bears us he will not have our Sins in Remem∣brance;

but then it is conditionally, ••hat we become sorrowful for our misdo∣••••gs, and repent us of the Evil of our ••ays. That he has power to Pardon ••••d Forgive us, is past all peradven∣••ure, for all power in Heaven and Earth •• in his hands; and as his Mercies are ••nfinite, so is his Power Vnlimited and ••comprehensible; nor is his Care and Regard less, for he that keepeth Israel, neither Sleepeth nor Slumbereth. There∣fore let the Wicked Man leave his ways, and the Ʋnjust Man the Evil of his d••∣••ings, and turn unto the LORD, and ••he will have mercy on him, and is ready to forgive him, and those that do trust in him shall not be Confounded; for whoso dwelleth in the Secret of the most High, shall abide in the Shaddow of the Almighty; surely he will deliver thee from the Snare of the Hunter, and from the Noisom Pestilence; he will cover thee under his Wings, and thou shalt be safe under his Feathers, his Truth shall be thy Shield and thy Buckler; thou shalt not be afraid of the Arrow that flyeth by Day, nor of the Plague that destroyeth by Noon-day; a Thousand shall fall on thy side, and Ten-thousand at thy right-hand, but it shall not come

nigh 〈…〉〈…〉 his 〈…〉〈…〉 but 〈…〉〈…〉 on 〈…〉〈…〉 them out of 〈…〉〈…〉 them in the 〈…〉〈…〉 Peace 〈…〉〈…〉 Father 〈…〉〈…〉 out of 〈…〉〈…〉 to 〈…〉〈…〉 us to our•• endless Comfort, That GOD so lov•••• the World, that he gave his only begot∣ten Son, to the end that whos••••••er be∣lieveth in him might have 〈…〉〈…〉 Life: for he came into the World not to condemn the World, but to the ena that he might sav•• Sanners.

Having heard these comfortable Sayings, I greatly rejoyced; and be∣gan to Sing in this manner:

O! what Return can Sinners make to thee For Mercies that are far beyond de∣gree! O Gracious Lord! What can poor Dust repay! Nothing but Sighs and Tears! Alas, can they

Hope for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Yes, if truly sent, From Hearts that Contrite are, and Pendent.

Notes

• Rom. 5.20
• 1 Iohn. 4.9.
• Iohn. 15.13.
• 1 Iohn. 2.1.
• Iohn. 3 ••••
• Isa. 43.25.
• Mat. 28.18.
• Psal. 91.1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.