CHAP. VI.

4. A Fourth Consideration is this, The Nature of Gods Interest in us.

1. It's an Interest that hath suffered vi∣olence: There was a great violation made, and much dishonor cast upon it; for God was rejected and cast off by us. In the pri∣mitive Apostacy, the whole nature of Man cast him off quickly, and upon a small temptation; and since that every one of us in our own persons have often cast him off, and denyed him when he hath pleaded his own right, and have said, he should not bear rule over us: This might have set him against us, and the rather, because our offence was not acknowledged by us, we bore it away stifly: God found us in this state, We were enemies in our minds by evil works; or, by our minds on evil works, Col. 1.21. If a woman depart from her husband, and be married to another, will he receive her again? saith God in Jer. 3. Yet he hath re∣ceived Page  125 us, though we have offered violence to that Interest which he had in us upon all accounts. The Angels did thus indeed, but God never pardoned them, when he reached forth his hand to the lost World, 2 Heb. 16. He did not take hold of them, he took hold of man, to bring him unto repent∣ance, and so to bring him back again to his first Estate. If the greater force the lesser, the lesser is pitied; if the lesser force the greater, every one wonders at him, and condemns him. Oh what condemnation is this worthy of, that the Creature should force the Creator! and deny God that made him to be his God! And yet this we have all done.

Again, It's an Interest that hath suffer∣ed detriment and loss: We are not what we were, when we were first his. At first we were a glorious structure, as we came out of his hands: But since we gave our selves to other Lords, there is nothing but darkness and confusion, and what ever is vile and unlovely in us. You are degenerated, saith God, into a strange vine unto me, Jer. 2.20. [Strange,] that is, not only new, or what it was not; but [strange,] that is, one that I know not, that I approve not: as we use to say when we are offended with one, You are a strange man; that is, not Page  126 according to mine expectation or desire. So we were gone into a condition strange to God, yet he hath taken us in again. If a servant run from his Master, and when he is become poor, blind, lame, deformed, and altogether diseased, shall find re-admit∣ance; what an act of grace is this? This is our case; we went from God when we were well, and are become altogether de∣praved, deformed, and in an absolute con∣trariety unto God. The Father took in the Prodigal when he had spent all; he gave him indeed a goodly portion, but he mis-spent it, and mis-spent himself; yet he re∣ceived him again as a Son: So God hath dealt with us; therefore this should be an engagement upon us to please God.

Again, It is an Interest with charge: The Prodigal when he returned had nothing to live on, but must live on his Fathers alms: When God took us in again we had no∣thing, we must wholly live upon him.

Again, It is an Interest by free choyce: God takes in not all, but some; and what mercy is it that any of us should be of that some, if any of us should make any of that few which God hath restored to favor?

One Consideration more is this, that God will have it so: If God be your God, he calls for this, that you be careful to Page  127 please him; he will make you to do it. It is a most absurd thing to dream of such a state of grace, that gives licentiousness, to walk in sinful inordinate affections contra∣ry to God: it's against the Wisdom, Goodness and Power of God; and he having Power in his hand will never suf∣fer it.

Three things God will do to those that please him not.

1. He will suspend the sweetness of his pre∣sence, which you have expressed in the words of that good Prophet, 2 Chro. 15.2. He went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Now hear thou me, and all Judah and Benja∣min, The Lord is with you, while you are with him; and if you seek him, he will be found of you; but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.

A second thing is a denyal of success to you: What you hope for, shall be blasted; what you desire, shall be broken; that which you fear, shall come upon you. Thus God dealt with this King Asa; because to shun War he swerved from God, and took a wrong course, therefore, saith God, thou hast done very foolishly; henceforth thou shalt have War.

A third thing is, that he will deny such the testimony of his favor; for want of which Page  128 David in Psal. 51. so complains, looking upon himself as a man spiritless and for∣saken.