Selected quad for the lemma: mercy_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
mercy_n	full_a	lord_n	psal_n	2,435	5	7.5110	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A96684	God a Christian's choice, compleated by particular covenanting with God Together with an appendix, containing propositions, tending to clear up the lawfulness, and expediency of transacting with God in that way. In pursuit of a design proposed by Mr. R.A. in his book entituled, The vindication of Godliness. And by Mr. Tho. Vincent, in his book, called Words whereby we may be saved. To which is added, a brief discovery of the nearness of such a people unto God, on Psal. 148. 14. By Samuel VVinney, sometimes minister of the gospel at Glaston in Somersetshire.	Winney, Samuel.	1675 (1675)	Wing W3034; ESTC R231145	79,544	241

be so if a man chuse that which is not really good it is meerly from the misapprehension of the object for men do not chuse that which is evil asevil but as it seems or as it appears to be good their apprehension of it to be good provokes to a desire and choice of it And he that knows God to be the chiefest Good he it is that will chuse him above all to himself the same David that said of God thou art Good Psal 119.68 the sa●●e David said also thou art my Lord Psal 16.2 Psal 4.6 Many will say who will shew us any Good that is worldly Good because they know no better but Lord lift thou up the light of thy Countenance c. to this suits the Etymology of the Greek word * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a duc●●d● quia duc allicit nos ad sui expetitionem Mag. in Arist ●●vel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i.e. valde currendo quia ad bonu● valde currimus i. e. Expetimus I eigh Crit sac 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for good Some take it as coming from a word which signifieth to draw because it doth draw effectually to the desire of it and others derive it from a word which signifieth running because when once the Soul hath the apprehension of it it will run swiftly after it now God being the only real and chief God he is the chief desire of every Soul that knows and apprehends him to be so Secondly God is a Communicative Good and so he is not chosen only for the Good that is in himself though chiefly therefore but for the good that is communicated and diffused daily from him unto us The same David that said thou art my Lord said also in the same Psal 16. The Lord is my portion further he said too thou art Good and thou dost Good Psal 119. This seems to be something of kin to that speech of Jacob expressing his choice of God Gen. 28. If the Lord will give me but bread to eat and raiment to put on the Lord shall be my God and that is the mea●●st of all these good things and if Jacob will take God for his upon such low terms what should we do what obligations do lie upon us to chuse him who gives us Life Breath Being Grace and Glory and all Thirdly He is the only satisfying Good therefore is he to be chosen such a Good that will fill up the whole affection and all the defires of the Soul and nothing will satisfy it but God the Soul till it come to God is never satisfied nor at rest no more than the Dove that fled from Noah's Ark till it returned thither again All created Goods are not satisfying Goods though the Soul be a finite being yet the desires be infinite and therefore whatsoever it chuseth and resteth in it will not be satisfyed till it come to God who is infinite Psal 63.1 My Soul thirsteth for thee yea my flesh longeth for thee 2. to see thy power and thy glory When it enjoys God then it says as he ver 5. My Soul is satisfyed as with Marrow and Fatness ver 6. when I remember thee on my bed c. It is God's mercy and goodness alone that can satisfy which way soever it comes whether he communicates it mediately by his Ordinances here on Earth or immediately from himself in heaven Here in his ordinances Psal 65.4 Blessed is the man whom thou chusest and causest to approach unto thee that he may dwell in thy Courts he shall be satisfied with the Goodness of thy house c. O satisfy us early with thy mercy Psal 90.14 I will satiate the Soul of the Priests with fatness and my people shall be satisfled with Goodness saith the Lord Jer. 31.14 so hereafter when I awake in the morning of the resurrection I shall be satisfyed with thy likeness saith David Psal 17.15 other things satisfy not riches will not satisfie the eye is not satisfied with riches Eccles 4.8 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfyed with silver nor he that loveth abundance Eccl. 5.10 The great plea with which the Lord Jesus Christ Expostulateth with Souls is Isa 55.2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread And your labour for that which satisfieth not It is God and he alone is the Souls only satisfaction therefore chuse him Before I pass to the use I shall for the further evident proof of this that God is the only Soul-satisfying Good propose to you the Experience of two persons who found such satisfaction in God even in this life that it might be effectual to draw our affections to chuse him above all to our selves And the one is of Mr. John Welch a Scotch Minister who besides his continued enjoyment of Communion with God especially * The fulfilling of the Script P. 429. During his Sickness was so filled and overcome with the sensible enjoyment of God that he was sometime overheard in prayer to have these words Lord holdthy hand It is enough thy servant is a clay-vessel and can hold no more such large manifestations he had of God to his Soul which gave him full satisfaction And * Xaverius clamabat s● t is est Domine satis est nec enim mens mea in hac vitat antum gaudiorum pondus capit A. Lap. in Cant. 2.3 Another said It is enough Lord it is enough my Soul is not able to receive such an exceeding weight of joys in this lise Do not these words of these persons evidently declare the abundant Satisfaction that is to be had in God even here besides that fulness of joy and Satisfaction that there is to be had in him and from him in the lise to come there is then Satisfaction to be had in God and who would not chuse such a God as this is CHAP. IV. The Application entred on first Use of Information The Truth being cleared and consirmed the next thing that follows is the putting of it to a due use improvement in our lives and practices Use 1. Information Vse 1. Inform This doth discover to us the great and indispensible duty of all men even of all people that mean to be happy Especially of all that profess themselves to be the people of God and that is to chuse God to be theirs How hard a matter it is to be perswaded to it or convinced of the necessity of it this is the great question you are to put to your Souls have I yet chosen God to be mine Reader what dost thou say in this Case What answer doth thine heart give to this most important query proposed Have you yet chosen God to be yours or not Oh Christians if I might be but instrumental in this great Work in causing your hearts and affections to embrace and chuse God what a work would this be It is a very hard matter to be made to believe any of these truths that

it is not now needful to Question but if the former was done as it may be rationally supposed then it speaks fully to our purpose it may be not only subscribed with the hand but sealed also This would be as effectual a Monitor of and Bond upon us as Joshua's stone that he set up for a testimony ver 27. This way is the Counsel of a Reverend Divine in a book written by him called a Vindication of Godliness which it may be some of you that hear and read this and I hope thousands more have seen wherein pag. 173. c. he hath given suitable direction very quick and pressing to such a way of dealing with God and pag. 179. he hath set down the form of such a Covenant Such a thing is directed to also * Mr. Thomas Vincent Treat called Words whereby we may be saved pag. 63.64 c. Also in Mr. Jos Alleins book of Convers pag 164. the same as is in Vindictae Pietatis in another Reverend Divine's book named in the margin and another you may find subjoyned at the end hereof you may make use of which you please But I think it best for every judicious Christian to have a draught of his own as best suiting his estate which will much tend to our Spiritual good and advantage as the Appendix will discover and then in life manifest that you have chosen him by chusing all those things that please him God complaints of it as a great sin of the Jews that they did evil before him and wherein was that so evident and did chuse that wherein I delighted not Isa 65.12 just as if a women should chuse a man for her husband but not do any thing he delights in rather chuse to do all that might displease him Whereas those that do take hold of God's Covenant must chuse also those things that please God Isa 56.4 It may be she will live with him for a shew and a pretence but is so far from pleasing him as that she is always vexing and fretting him just so Jerusalem fretted God in all these things Ezek. 16.43 Though we should walk so as to please God and abound therein more and more 1 Thes 4.1 The carriages and conversations of most towards God do discover that they chuse the things that do displease him but let us do and chuse to do the things that please him Particularly 1. chuse the fear of the Lord Be in the fear of the Lord all the day long Prov. 23. that is a brave life and that will make a man eschew whatsoever is displeasing unto God God laies it on a people as their great sin that they did not chuse the fear of the Lord Prov. 1.31 2. Chuse the statutes of God David that chose God for his portion and inheritance he also chose Gods statutes Psal 119.111 Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever for they are the rejoicing of my heart and ver 30. I have chosen the way of thy truth Men look upon the actions but God looks on the choice of persons more than their actions though he look to and observes both some sin out of infirmity others out of choice chuse the things wherein God hath no pleasure Folly is joy to him that is destitute of Wisdom Prov. 15.21 now God pities the one and pardons But if we sin wilfully after we have received the knowledg of the truth this is sad indeed Heb. 10. I beseech you therefore chuse God and cleave to him with all your Heart and Soul for ever And frequently reiterate and solemnly view this way of transacting with God according to the draught you have lying by you especially every fast-day every Sacrament-day wherein there is as I may so say a new Seal set to the bond of the Covenant wherein you are obliged Oh that the transaction between God and Israel might be between every Soul that hath heard and may read this Deut. 26.17 Thou hast avouched the Lord this day to be thy God and to walk in his waies and to hearken to his voice ver 18. See the Appendix and the Lord hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people as he hath promised and that thou shouldest keep all his Commandements Having directed you to two forms of the Covenant whereby the Christians choice of God is compleated by a free and blessed close with him as also made mention of another to be subjoyned I thought good to offer you the use and view thereof though I have wished and still do that each person that can would be his own penman in this case because though it may be drawn full enough to any hand yet it may not so suit and satisfy every ones Condition or Experience as it might if it were drawn out of as I may say and according to the frame and workings of a Man's own Soul OMst Glorious Gracious and blessed Lord God the great Creator Gen. 14.19 and most high possessor of Heaven and Earth I thy poor and unworthy Creature * Psal 139.14 fearfully and wonderfully made by thee at first in my Creation and as wonderfully dignified by thee in being taken into Covenant with thee in that blessed estate wherein I was at first made do desire to come humbly prostrate before thee in the sense of thy great mercy and my own vileness and undone estate by the fall and the irreparable breach of that first Covenant by that transgression of my first parents and manifold violations of all thy holy and just Rom. 7.12 and good Laws in my sinful practice and Conversation being touched by thy blessed Spirit with a serious remorse therefore am emboldned by thy gracious invitations and frequent call to come in the most humble and unfeigned manner that I can unto thee beseeching thee that thou wouldest accept of me in thy dear Son and mercifully vouchsafe to receive me into Covenant a-new with thy self even that Covenant of Grace which thou hast revealed in thy holy Word wherein thou offerest assurest to all that will come unto thee and lay hold on thy mercy * Joh. 6.37 that they shall in no wise be case out I am I acknowledg a lost sinner in my self and have daily played my part against thee in thought and word and deed discovering that enmity that my heart hath been by nature full of against thee in my enormous rebellions and provocations Thy Promise is * Isa 55.7 Though I have been wicked If I forsake my evil way and though I have been unrighteous if I forsake my evil thoughts and turn unto the Lord thou wilt have mercy upon me and abundantly pardon Having encouragement by thy promise and hoping in thy word * Jer. 3.22 behold I come unto thee beseeching thee O Lord that thou wouldest have mercy upon me a miserable sinner Luk. 18.13 Now sith it hath pleased thee to require and dost expect of him that

upon Oh the beauty of holiness that is in the face of God! the glorious beauty of ten thousand Suns shining in their noon-day Splendour can't match the brightness that shines in his face continually How earnestly did the Prophet both desire and seek after the beauty of the Lord Psal 27.4.2 If an honourable person makes choice of and sues to a person of mean extraction how soon do the affections seem to comply David tells us that he would speak of the glorious honour of his Majesty Psal 145.5 he is clothed with honour and majesty Psal 104.1.3 If Greatness will prevail on us God's Greatness is unsearchable Psal 145.3 who can praise him according to his excellent greatness Psal 150.2.4 If riches Oh the unsearchable riches of his grace Eph. 3.8.5 If faithfulness will do how faithful are all his promises how many Suiters come with fair pretences and promises with great shewes of riches greatness and honour yet altogether insignificant but God will never suffer his faithfulness to fail Psal 89.6 If wisdom none will chuse if possible a fool to himself now God is the only wise God 1 Tim. 1.17.7 If love how great is the love wherewith he hath loved us Eph. 2.4.8 If patience will at last prevail Oh the riches of his goodness and long-suffering and patience how many refusals and put-offs hath he born at our hands which yet shall never be laid to our charge no nor cast in our teeth if at last we are prevailed with to chuse and give our Consent to him 9. If importunity who hath used more how oft hath he besought us by his ministers by his word Spirit mercies menaces what not 10. If Blessedness Oh the infinite glorious eternal Blessedness of God! Psal 119.12 Is he not God blessod for ever Rom. 5. he is the blessed and the blessing of God the Fountain of all blessedness O at last let some or all these things prevail with you to chuse him to be your God! And as much as God is before all these things and these eminent perfections are more conspicuous in him than in all other besides him so much we should be the more effectually prevailed with speedily without debate or delay to chuse him before any of them all 8. Mot. Consider moreover if you chuse God to be your God you shall be sure here to enjoy your choice which as it is the best and most blessed enjoyment of all in Heaven or Earth so whatsoever we chuse elsewhere we may miss of and go without the enjoyment of it as well if it be a mean thing as if it be the more excellent in and among these low contemptible things of this world yea and of the lowest of them we cannot chuse and take But I dare in the name of God to make this offer to any person whomsoever that if he chuse really and unfeignedly God to be his God as he ought chuse him and take him chuse him and he will become thine thou hast him as thine own and shalt enjoy and possess all the Good that is in him as thine own peculiar treasure if thou chuse him and embrace him We cannot wish have chuse and possess in these matters of this World if so who would not be in a far better estate than he is and can be if a poor maid would chuse the King for her husband she might go without him or if a poor man chuse a great mans estate he might go without it but if the poorest and unworthiest Soul shall chuse his maker for his husband he shall have him I will betroth thee unto me c. Hos 2. and whosoever will chuse the unsearchable riches of Jesus Christ for his portion the Kingdom of God for his the inheritance of the Saints in light for his mansion may enjoy them Here you may certainly chuse and take by choice you may get interest in nay possession of whatsoever you make choice of to your selves here is no failure nor frustration of your affection and Election and will not this prevail with you 9. Mot. Yet once more Consider that if you make choice of God for your God you make choice of that can never be taken away from you whatsoever you chuse of the World either is perishing in it self or is subject to be made a prey and a Spoil unto others even the worst of persons all Worldly treasures if we could chuse and have them are subject to the moth or rust Mat. 6. or else the thief may steal them and so take them away either they breed that will destroy themselves or else others may destroy us for them or if not so they may at least take them violently away from us if you chuse Gold that will be gone if Silver that may be taken away if riches they Take themselves wings and flee away as an Eagle towards Heaven and how swist is that Prov. 23.5 but if you chuse God he can never be taken away God will never take himself away It is true God is pleased sometimes to withdraw himself and to hide his face but yet never takes himself away from any Soul that hath chosen him and whom he hath chosen and none else can take him away Devils nor men can never rob us of God whatsoever they may or do take from us 10. Mot. Lastly consider that if you continue to refuse and will not make choice of him to be your God take heed that he doth not reject you and cast you off for ever if we refuse him now beware that he refuse us not hereafter when we would Is not this the trouble of persons when they are awakened made sensible come to them and ask them whether they do not think that God is willing to receive them they reply Ay but have not I neglected the offers of his Grace too long so that God will not now be reconciled and become mine though I do chuse him If he stand at the door and knock and we will not open time may come that we may stand at his door too and knock and he not open unto us Prov. 1.24 Because I have called and ye refused I stretched out my hand and no man regarded and would none of my reproof ver 28. They shall call upon me but I will not answer they shall seek me early and shall not find me because they would not chuse the fear of the Lord. So Zech. 7.11 As I called and they would not hear so they shall call and I will not hear saith the Lord. Mat. 23.37 O Jerusalem Jerusalem how often would I have gathered thy Children together as an Hen gathereth her Chickens under her wings but ye would not● therefore your house is left unto you desolate God utterly cast off the Jews because they would not chuse him nor close with his tenders let us take heed lest if we stand off till too late he may reject us for ever Now lay all these things together and see