glorified saints and angels could not unite with those who had no one sentiment or feeling in unison with their own d : nor would they who hate the exercises of prayer and praise in this world, find any satisfaction in such exercises in the world above. I say therefore again, that to an impenitent sinner heaven would be no heaven : for while sin reigns within him, he has a hell in his own bosom, and carries it with him where- soever he goes.]
3. It would introduce disorder into the whole universe —
[What sensations must it occasion in heaven ! for if God can so change his very nature as to love an unholy creature, who can tell but that he may go one step further, and hate an holy one ? As for the effect of it on earth, no one from that moment would either hate or fear sin : not hate it, because they would see that God does not hate it ; and not fear it, because they would see that he will not punish it. Even in hell the effect of it would be felt : for, if God takes an impeni- tent man to his bosom, why may he not an impenitent spirit also ; and what hinders but that the fallen angels may yet become as happy as those who never fell? Could such a thought as this be cherished in that place of torment, hell would from that moment cease to be the place it is.]
Here then is ample reason why God, notwith- standing his delight in mercy, cannot find how to exercise it towards impenitent sinners. But, II. Where humiliation is manifested, mercy may be expected —
This appears,
1. From the very mode in which repentance is here enjoined —
[When we speak of God as embarrassed in his mind, or perplexed in his counsels, we must not be understood to inti- mate that such things actually exist : for " known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world :" nor can any occasion possibly arise, wherein he can be at a loss how to act. But he is pleased to speak in this kind of language respecting himself, in order to accommodate himself to our feeble apprehensions : " Put off thy ornaments, that I may know what to do unto thee." Thus in various other places he speaks as perplexed in his mind about the line of conduct he shall pursue e, and as wishing to shew mercy, but not knowing
d They would be ready to " thrust him out" of their society. Luke xiii. 28. e Hos. vi. 4.