But we must know, that in the covenant of grace now in the gospel, this is not put as a bar of God's love, that I am a sinner, that I have committed
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any degree of sin wliatsoever. None are shut out but those that will be as they are. And therefore all objections are taken away in the promulgation of the gospel. Ay, but I am guilty, and Oh, I am laden witla sin ! ' Be of good comfort, thou art called, thou art the man. Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden,' Mat. xi. 28. Oh that I might find mercy, says one. Why, ' Blessed are the hungry and thirsty ; blessed are the poor in spirit ; blessed are the mourners,' Mat. v. 3, 4 ; and ' Ho, every one that thirsteth, come,' Isa. Iv. 1. There is hope for thee. He keeps open house for every one. He shuts out none but those that shut out themselves, that think these things are too good to be true, and there- fore will enjoy their pleasures, and go on still and daub with their con- science. But if their hearts be awakened, if they will go to God and cast themselves upon his mercy, whosoever is weary, whosoever is athirst, who- soever is heavy laden, God is no accepter of persons, but at ' what time soever any sinner whatsoever repents of any sin whatsoever,' God will shew mercy, if he come in and accept of the proclamation of pardon, Ezek. xviii. 22. If he come in, and will not continue in his rebellion still, but cast himself upon his mercy, and resign, and yield himself to God and to Christ's government, to be ruled by him, as a subject should be, he shall find mercy. Let the devil, therefore, keep none in bondage, in the dun- geon of ignorance and unbelief, for the end of the gospel is to bring in all such, if they will.
But to come more particularly to such as have true goodness in them, and yet the devil takes all advantages to hinder the apprehension of God's love to them in Christ.
Quest. 2. How shall ice in divers states and cases Iriiifj men to be persuaded of God's love in Christ, when conscience and Satan, together with some out- ward occurrents, nrge them to unbelief aiid to staf/r/er ?
For instance, a sinner that is converted and in the state of grace, he may ofttimes fall into some great sin ; hereupon Satan, taking advantage of the sin, together with conscience, which always helps Satan in this case, speaks bitter things.
Ans. 1. Thus we must answer such as are drawn by Satan to sin, and after accused by Satan for sin, and to whom God is presented as a hateful God, &c., that notnithstandinr/ theij should not be discouraged. We have many examples in Scripture : ' If we sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Christ Jesus,' &c., 1 John ii. 1 ; and he is the propitiation for our sins. We ought not, therefore, to be discouraged from going to God, humbled as we ought to be. Here is place for humiliation, but there is no place for base discouragement, and calling God's love into question. A son under anger is a son ; and therefore, though Satan presents to him an angry God for sin — for this temptation is then sharpened indeed, when it is made a weapon by Satan, by reason that God accompanies the sinner that is fallen into sin, with some judgment as a punishment — yet he ought to lay hold on the rich mercies of God in Christ. What should he else do ? Shall he run away from God ? No. A bastard, a slave, will do so ; but he runs to God. Even as a child, when he hath ofi'ended his father, doth not run away from him ; but, knowing that his father is merciful and loving, though he have offended him, and that he is now a son, though under his wrath, he goes and studies to appease his father, casts himself upon his favour and mercy, and will endure his correction gently. Thus ought w^e to do. Satan, when he hath gotten us to sin, he saith. Now you had as good run on still, for God follows you with judgments ; you have oifended
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God, and there is no hope for jou. So he keeps us without comfort, and God without service, by that means ; whereby we run deeper and deeper into God's books. Oh come in betimes, and repent. It will be easier. Thy comfort will be stronger. God will be sooner pacified. Thy heart will not be so hardened. Do not call in question God's love to thee ; for Satan tempts, and corrupts, and draws thee to sin, for that end, to call it in question. God may love thee, though he follow thee with shows of anger ; for he may be angry, and yet love thee too, as we shall see afterwards.
Ans. 2. Again, Satan doth use as a weapon, to shake our sonship or adoption, and our estate in God's love, manifold temptations and crosses, and such like, to discourage us. He comes with * If.' ' If thou wert in the love of God, and the love of God in thee, and did belong to thee any ■way, would God follow thee thus and thus, with these declarations of wrath and anger ?'