his prey and a Lionesse robbed of her whelpes pointing at his fury to a tender mother comforting her childe and a pittifull father compassionating his owne bowels painting out his mercy Sometimes saying that he is dreadfull yet to be delighted in fearefull yet fauourable terrible euen to the Kings of the earth and yet tender carrying his children vpon Eagles wings farre and free from any danger as loth to haue them harmed as the Apple of his owne eye hurt A God of wrath with his Bow bent Arrowes ready and Weapons prepared and yet a Sun to solace a Shield to shelter those that are afflicted Truly therefore did the sweet singer of Israel concerning him warble vpon his Harpe Mercy and Truth are met together Righteousnesse and Peace haue kissed each other For this is demonstrated by his works of both Mercy and Iustice wheresoeuer for the place on whomsoeuer for the persons manifested For the place whether in Heauen Earth or Hell In Heauen the persisting of the good Angels the ioyes prepared there for these blessed Saints who yet continue in their fleshly Tabernacles and enioyed there by those happy euer happy soules who in him haue remoued from their earthly mansions resound his mercy In Heauen his thence expelling the backsliding Angels and excluding out the cursed crue blazon his Iustice for his retinue in Heauen abide in their created condition by his goodnesse his redeemed on earth are restored to their former farre firmer felicity through his grace and the hellish reprobates are for their disobedience left altogether frustrate of any hope of Heauens happinesse in his anger In earth the seating of Adam before his fall as Soueraigne Viceroy and Lord Lieutenant ouer all his other creatures in Paradise a place of pleasure ready and fully furnished with all things to satisfie the minde and sustaine the body after his fall the fatherly calling fauourable conuenting mild examining of him nay his prouiding euen publishing the remedy to redresse his ruines Adam not so much as dreaming of much lesse desiring least of all endeuoring any dictate his Clemency But the sharpe inflicted censure vpon the serpent perswading and our first parents perpetrating that Act of disobedience their then present and for euer after perpetuall exile so duly deserued from that place so greatly abused declare his seuerity In hell the worme of conscience gnawing the firie flame scorching darknesse molesting the eies howling and gnashing of teeth possessing the eares bitternesse and vnquenchable thirst offending the taste sulphurious stench infesting the smell endlesse easelesse remedilesse paines surprising the touch To conclude in one word what must be continued beyond all worlds and is not to be expressed by any words sorrow without solace mourning without melody grieuous pangs without the least gladding pleasure paint out his fury yet euen there this doth point at his fauour that hee might at this present more seuerely punish them seeing by an infinite Maiestie offended by an incomprehensible deity disobeyed an endlesse torment might duly be exacted an vnspeakable torture might iustly be inflicted as well for the greatnesse as the continuance of the punishment as soone as the transgression was committed In that then their miseries are not more nor their sufferings more vnsufferable as yet is extended mercy towards those who are altogether miserable so as if we consider the place the Lord is seene both in heauen earth and hell neither wholly depriued of pitty nor fully possessed with displeasure The same wee may note in him if we glance at the persons on whom his workes of Iustice and Mercy are executed whether we suruey their diuersity or Identity The persons diuersity the Lord being mercifull to one at that time when he is iust to another contrarily against one furious when to another he is fauourable Thus when his wrathfull power made way to his indignation vtterly to consume Sodome and Gomorrha Gen. 19. at the same instant his mercifull Prouidence found out a path safely to conuey Lot and his family In like manner when his mercy staied the furious waters of the Red sea Exod. 14. for deliuering his chosen Israel his rage burst out by the same waters ouer the banks of that mercy and drowned the Egyptians The Lord as the Sun withdrawing his presence and light from one Nation at the same season disperseth the comfort of his raies vpon another region and as the fire hath a diuers operation extending its heate to things of different qualities softning hard wax and hardning soft clay in the same moment yet herein the Creator exceeds these creatures that he workes diuersly vpon the same subiect being both iust and mercifull mercifull and iust vnto men considered in the Identitie of their persons where without respect of or relation to any other the same man is the obiect of his actions be he bad or good The bad haue children at their desire leaue their substance for their babes their Tabernacles doe prosper Iob 12.6 and they themselues are in safety who prouoke God their bellies are filled with his rich treasure their riches doe so increase Psal 37.4 and their wealth commeth on so fast in their life is such a seeming blisse and in their death no bands that they doe euen what they list they are rauished with delight passe their daies in iollity make feasts like Kings drinke their Wine in bowles and stretch their bulks vpon beds of Iuory in this to them is extended Gods fauour but either in that instant they are besotted with a forgetfulnesse of Gods mercies sacrificing to their owne nets and of others miseries not thinking of Hab. 1.16 or not caring for the affliction of Ioseph or they are in the same moment arested with a sudden feare as the rich man in the Gospell or they are presently attached with a senslesse despaire as Nabal or at the last howsoeuer long first they are summoned to a dreadfull sentence as Diues so that as truly said Salomon that long-experienced much-obseruing King Prou. 14.13 either in laughing their hearts are sorrowfull or their mirth doth end in mourning either their inward griefes are vshered with outward gladnesse or their temporall prosperity attended on with eternall misery the one whereof in them is a badge of Gods louing bounty the other the very cognizance of the Lords iust punishing equitie But doe the bad only beare the badges of mercy and misery is he not also as well a Lion as a Lambe to the good before in after their conuersion Yes surely Before their conuersion as they differ not from the wicked in vnworthinesse so neither are they altogether free from the signes and suffering of his wrath threatnings sounding in their eares hell gnawing on their soules iudgement seasing on them and theirs whereby they cannot but discerne him iust Yet in that he is so patient in waiting for so diligent in working of their conuersion Esa 65.2 spreading his hands out early and late towards
Two Cherubims prying into that Arke 2. Time when and person to whom moue admiration 3. Two Tables by which and to which all duties to God and man are directed both ayming at Gods glory 3. His. In himselfe abiding yet to man extended and in both respects reflexing vpon his owne praise 4. Manner not ordinary but beyond expectation and common euent Maruellous 4. Aarons rod by which miracles were wrought 5. Place where this Kindnesse was reserued in a strong Citie 5. Pot of Manna 6. The Heart from which thanksgiuing a sacrifice so acceptable to God issued Blessed be the Lord. 6. Censor from which the smell of incense so sweetly ascended Logically the 1. Agent He 2 Act shewed 3. Obiect Kindnesse its Opportunity in the Time when Hath Trāscendency in the person to whom Mee Propriety in the person by whom His. Rarity in the Manner how Maruellous Particularity in the Place where In a strong citie Errata PAg. 4. in marg read 2 Sam. ch 17 18 19. 1 Sam. 30. 1 Sam. 23. pag. 19. in marg adde Amos 6.6 p. 35. l. 12. for but r. to be p. 44. l. 10. after loue r. looking on the Compasse of his mercy p. 46. l. 11. before For r. Freely p. 54. in M. for Vers r. Cha. p. 55. l. 2. r. as God p. ib. l. 3. r. as our God p. 68. l. 20. r. former in that p. 69. l. 6. r. speciall l. 10. for word r. house p. 79. l. 9. r. teares p. 84. l. 15. r. publishing p. 85. l. penult r. did in PSALME 31.21 Blessed be the Lord for he hath shewed mee his maruellous kindnesse in a strong Citie EVery thing hath its turne and time Eccles 3.1 yea time giues to euery thing its 〈◊〉 insomuch as man himselfe neuer continueth in one stay Iob. 14.2 the truth whereof no glasse can better shew than the Psalmes for in them wee may liuely behold the variable and mutable condition of man though neuer so neere in affection or deare in estimation vnto God in them Dauid that anointed of the Lord Psal 107.26 and in him all Gods chosen may be seene in this life as the Ship in the Sea in estate and respect euen now lifted vp to the clouds sayling with a pleasant gale in the calme of prosperity and by and by let downe to the bottome with the impetuous violence of the blast of one or other calamitie in soule and spirit sometimes soaring with the wings of hope aboue the heauens and againe plunged as low as hell with the weight of distrust through some disaster either inflicted or feared Whence proceed such and so sundry varieties of expressing in diuers of them his owne hopes and feares comforts and corasiues solace and sorrowes restraints and deliuerances But in this Psalme he stands as it were in the view of all vpon the worlds Theater and sounds in the eares of all a Diapason whiles warbling vpon his harpe hee toucheth the string of euery passion For he powreth out his praier with instancy in the first and second verses gathereth assured hope in the third and yet as one not fully freed from feare nor dispossest of hope returnes againe to praier and giues the reason of his assurance in the third fourth and fift pleadeth in expresse termes his holy affection and confidence which hee had in the time past in the sixt publisheth his resolute purpose of gladnesse and reioycing in the time to come by reason of the Lords fauour already shewed as one forgetfull and not fearing any present misery in the seuen and eighth Yet on the sudden calling as it seemes to minde the trouble and danger he was then in reneweth his suit which is pressed and amplified with relating by way of complaint sundry miseries and indignities which he doth endure and formerly had vndergone to the fourteenth in which miseries and indignities he reports what was and is his trust and patience in the fourteenth and fifteenth and that againe is seconded with another supplication in the fifteenth and sixteenth as also with an imprecation in the seuenteenth and eighteenth after both which without interruption as the Riuer in a cleare channell into the Ocean he falleth into an admiring exclamation for the greatnesse of Gods goodnesse towards them that feare and trust in him in the nineteenth together with a reason of that his admiration in the twentieth from thence hee comes to giue thanks for a kindnesse whereof the Lord had made him partaker in his owne particular in some extraordinary manner and that in a strong Citie Either Ierusalem which Absolom had surprised 2 Sam. 18.19 and where Achitophels counsell by Hushaies to his preseruation was deluded Iansen Lorinus 2 Sam. 30. as some or Ziglag where the people were in minde to stone him and the spoiles whereof he recouered Arias 1 Sam. 19. as other or Keilah which Saul purposed to haue besieged and to whom the citizens thereof as the Lords Oracle reuealed had deliuered him if there he had staied as the most imagine Howsoeuer or in what citie soeuer Dauid is mindfull of that mercy and thankfull for that benefit in such termes as iustly giues me occasion to thinke vpon Salomon his sonne Salomon the mirror of men 2 Sam. 12.25 the beloued of the Lord not liked as a seruant John 8.35 but beloued as a Sonne that abides in the house for euer built a glorious Temple to the God of Israel and diuided it into three parts The first or outmost was Atrium Populi the court of the people called otherwise the Porch of Salomon the next was Atrium Sacerdotum the place for the Priests the third and inmost was Sanctum Sanctorum the Holy of Holies When I see these words of Dauid I suruey that worke of Salomon and hearing this warbling tune of the Father I behold that worthy Temple of the Sonne For if we looke for that part which concernes all it is here in the Author He who maketh his Sunne to rise on the euill and the good Matt. 5.45 and sendeth raine on the iust and vniust Would we see what concernes those that are sequestrated to his seruice and linked to him by a neerer bond as are all faithfull who being a royall Priest-hood Pet. 2.9 enioy a rarer priuiledge than others here we find it All haue not the Lords mercy manifested to them as had Dauid or if it be made apparant to them yet are not they made partakers of it as was this anointed of the Lord. He shewed me that is made me partaker of Long you to see that which Titus Vespasian desired Ioseph de bel Iud. l. 6. c. 10. nay commanded to be especially preserued from the fury of the fire the Sanctum Sanctorum into which the High Priest must enter Heb. 9.7 yet not oftner than once in the space of a whole yeere such was the glory of it and that it signified Here is the like maruellous kindnesse in a
them who are as yet rebellious deluing and digging about Luc. 13.8 dunging pruining of those trees which as yet are fruitlesse presenting himselfe to them in loue who absent themselues from him in disloyalty intreating and wooing them whom as a father his sonnes he might command as a Soueraigne his subiects he might inioine or a Lord his vassals he might compell they cannot towards them not behold him mercifull before their conuersion Note now the Echo of my accent in resounding his mercy and iustice in the very moment of his childrens change then he lets them see themselues plunged in the deuouring sea of their sinnes fettered in the Giues of their transgressions seruants to the rigour of the Law subiect to eternall death and slaues to the vnsatiable tyranny of Satan which being seene with feare is felt with sorrow for hereby their consciences do awake awakening accuse accusing arraigne conuict condemne them of vnkindnesse to so good of rebellion to so great a God then their hearts boile with throbs the sire of remorse is kindled in their soules and the flames breake out at their mouthes or at least is signified to be there by their sighs for either the tongue or the heart in the tongues silence cryeth out with the leprous I am vncleane Len. 13.45 I am vncleane and with the Apostle Paul Rom. 7.20 Wretched man that I am who shall deliuer me from the body of this death Thus hee appeares vnto them in the shape of a terrible Lion but lest they bee circumuented or too much endangered hee presently binds vp these wounds stops and staies these dangerous issues tendreth them a plaister compacted of his owne mercies and his Sonnes merits a salue compounded of his bounty and their Sauiours bloud and withall so inlightneth their vnderstanding that they looking vpon his good pleasure apprehend a possibility of their pardon he appeares in the meeknesse of a lambe In that therefore hee brings them by the mouth of Hell to the gates of Heauen causing them to condemne themselues lest they should bee condemned with the world 1 Cor. 11.31 then offring them the meanes of their amendment the occasion of their better change when hee might iustly leaue them in their misery and passe by them weltring in their polluted bloud then reuealing to them his grace Ezech. 16.6 when hee might righteously conceale from them his goodnesse then presenting them with a pardon when hee might duly inflict vpon them punishment yet so as first the horrour of their sinnes must seise vpon their soules and the hainousnesse of their iniquities set vpon their consciences that deepe impression of their deserts which afterward can bee defaced by no power but his owne spirit hee is iust and mercifull mercifull and iust to the good in the very instant of their change neither is hee otherwise after their change and in the continuance of their conuersion For sinners hating their apparant holinesse and Satan enuying their prepared happinesse assault the Fortresse of their faith batter the Castle of their confidence vndermine the Bulwarkes of their obedience and deface the Towers of their conuersation all which being built and semented with the rubbish of old corruption admit many breaches the Lust of the flesh 1 Iohn 2.16 the lust of the eyes and the pride of life carnall pleasures coueted profits enchanting vanities are as deceiuing baites whereon their flesh as the little fish too often greedily feedeth and their corruption as Tinder with these sparkes of Hell are set on fire and thus becomming sinners they suffer being to corruption affected with crosses they are afflicted and tainted with pollution are touched with punishment There is the Lords iustice Yet in that they are infested lest they should be more infected in that their miseries are mixt with ioyes and moderated according to what they are able to beare in that their suffrings are seasoned with heauens salt and salued with an happy successe they either taken from their trials or their tribulation remoued from them in that grace in the midst of misery is preserued in them and glory notwithstanding all calamity is reserued for them is manifest his mercy Doe then the good after their conuersion feele outward sorrow when they perceiue inward solace and are they perplexed with outward crosses as well as replenished with inward comforts though they be euer seized of many graces doe they yet suffer many grieuances and is not the Lord euen to them iust and mercifull iust he is not freeing corruption from calamity mercifull he is not leauing tribulation in perplexity Thus it is demonstrated by his works of mercy and iustice whether we looke on the place where or the persons on whom they are executed that the Lord as well beares a knife to cut as brings a salue to cure and hath as well a heart to raise vp as a hand to cast downe Let vs now attempt to confirme the same by reason taken from those absurdities which must be granted if this bee denied whether wee consider him our selues or others In him his attributes or his office are disparaged The Attributes which should adde oyle to this Lampe and make the light of this truth shine more cleerely are his liberty his omnipotency his verity but his liberty is abridged his omnipotency obscured his verity falsified if either the mercy or the iustice of the Lord bee excluded his liberty is abridged For if wee say he is all mercy how is not his word controlled his will violently carried against it selfe with the inundations of the sinnes of men which not only in this world he must necessarily be content to winke at but also in the world to come willingly entertaine If he be all mercy those who are knowne to him to be branded in conscience to the Deuils to be marked in conuersation with the curse of hel must by him be acknowledged to haue right to and be made partakers of the blisse of Heauen On the contrary side if he be all Iustice how is not the same will of his enforced to leaue those hopelesse for whom hee had purposed to whom he hath promised happinesse If he had beene all Iustice he had left in the pawes of Satan that roaring deuouring Lion those who are redeemed by the precious bloud of his Sonne that immaculate Lambe Ioh. 3.8 The winde bloweth where it listeth and the winds Creator worketh as him liketh doing as saies the Prophet Dauid what pleaseth him in heauen and earth and in the depths which hee could not doe if he were not free Now confessing him to be free wee must acknowledge him to bee both iust and mercifull or else his liberty is abridged and besides a Cloud is cast ouer his power his Omnipotency is obscured seeing he must either suffer what he would not or not doe what he should Lib. 5. de ciu Dei cap. 10. Now Dicitur omnipotens faciendo quod vult non patiendo quod
non vult saies Saint Augustine To doe what he will paints out Omnipotency to suffer what hee will not points at impotency Take away his iustice and he must suffer the blaspheming of his name the violating of his lawes the contempt of his commands without all remedy An earthly Commander shall reuenge the least offered indignity and Heauens Creator shall not be able to redresse but must endure the highest the most hainous blasphemy Take away his mercy a worldly Monarch shall aduance his Fauorite a meane Lord exalt a well deseruing seruant a poore father gratifie a truly obedient sonne but he by whom Princes reigne shall not conferre dignity on those in whom his soule delighteth nor the Lord of Lords reward his seruants diligence nor the Father of all that is called Father in heauen or earth countenance his Childs obedience Take away iustice hee who fetters the Nobles in linkes of iron and breaks in peeces the Princes of the earth as a Potters vessell shall himselfe be linked in the chaines of impiety because he cannot punish iniquity Take away mercy he who moueth mans heart to pitty openeth mens eares to attend strengtheneth mans hands to aid them who are in misery shall haue his owne heart so benummed that he cannot commiserate his owne eares so shut that he cannot heare and his owne arme so shortned that he cannot reach them who are in calamitie But there is no Lord which liues not vnder his law either obeying what he enioyneth or enduring what he inflicteth There is no honour or dishonour but is receiued from his hand either as a gratious signe of his loue or as the deserued successe of disloyalty which he disposeth as powerfully without resistance as freely without respect Is he then destitute of either Iustice or Mercy far be that conceit from our cogitations for it is the falsifying of his verity both in his promises and in his threatnings His gratious promises are as Sugar sweetning euery suffering as hony delighting euery Sinne-distempered taste as Triacle driuing corruption from the soule as Goats bloud softning an Adamantine heart his gratious promises giue a Supersedeas against the band of Law proclaime a writ of priuiledge from the Arrest of death and sue out a Writ of Error to reuerse the doome of condemnation passed against sin in the court of conscience Yet let this be granted that God is only iust and not mercifull the minde cannot but conceiue the vnderstanding must needs assume and reason will necessarily conclude that all his faire promises are but bare pretences Sinne and Despaire sitting at the helme Contrarily threatnings are the terror of the Soule the trouble of the thoughts the awakening of the drowsie threatnings turne Sendall into Sackloth cast crownes of gold downe among the dust and aduance dust as a more golden ornament for the head Threatnings as bitter potions purge the superfluous humors of impietie and as fire the wax prepareth the heart to receiue the impression of Gods spirit yet if God bee wholly mercifull and not iust will not the soule surmise them to bee clouds without raine Scorpions without stings and lesse to be feared than a thunderclap in another horizon security and presumption hoising the sayles But now though heauen and earth shall passe though the glorious Fabricke of the worlds Globe shall be wrapped together as a Scrole yet not one tittle of his word shall faile what hee promised in mercy shall be performed in clemency and what hee threatned in iustice shall bee executed in seueritie the freenesse of his will the greatnesse of his power the certainty of his truth his libertie omnipotency verity all and euery of them iointly and seuerally doe conuince that the Lord as well holds out the blacke Ensigne of war as the White colours of peace Or else to come to his office how should he bee Iudge of all the world There are three properties in a Iudge which should be as inseparable to him as heat is to the fire moisture to the aire drinesse to the earth coldnesse to the water that he Heare indifferently Examine diligently determine vnpartially which proper duties cannot be performed if either seuerity be swallowed vp of clemency or clemency choaked with seuerity Now howsoeuer God seeing the hearts and reines discerning the secretest thoughts and intentions to whom all things are naked needes not to listen listening to labour by due sifting to winnow out the truth yet in passing sentence he is to deale vnpartially Shall the Iudge of the world not doe right and yet when the Sheepe and Goats Wolues and Lambes the Children of light and imps of darknesse those who beare on their soules his owne stampe and those on whose hearts Satan may see the writing of his owne hand shall stand before him to heare their seuerall doomes being all mercy hee must absolue the wicked and beâ—ng all Iustice he cannot saue the godly and so he must necessarily passe a partiall and vnrighteous iudgement who is holy in all his waies and righteous in all his workes Iust when hee speaketh and pure when he iudgeth whom neither malice can iustly maligne nor Error shall euer bee able to blemish with absurdity neither in regard of his office or his attributes wherewith Satan would inueigle vs by blinding our minde with this misconceit that the Lord is either onely mercifull to cause presumption or only Iust to enforce despaire But if he were only iust and not mercifull the first Adam had either not sinned or hauing sinned had continued in vanity if only mercifull and not iust the second Adam had either not died or died in vaine If hee were not a God of anger feare were vnnecessarie If not a God of fauour faith a fancy our tribulations should be endlesse if he only frowning our sufferings fruitlesse if not fauourable What wipes our teares from our eies puts them in his bottle registers them in his booke not his mercy What heares the sighes of the soule the groaning of the spirit and the crying of the heart not his mercy What preserues our hands from acting our eies from beholding our feet from following vanitie not his mercy Mercy is the marke whereat our mourning aimeth Mercy is the limit where our sorrow boundeth Mercy is that Ocean where our misery endeth To no purpose should we grieue if the Lord were not good to no end should we sorrow if he were not gracious On the contrarie what is that in him which heareth our impieties the eares of his iustice What is that in him which espieth our vanities the eyes of his iustice What is that in him which punisheth our iniquities the hand of his iustice To no effect should we feare spirituall death if he be not righteous in vaine should wee flye from eternall danger if he be not rigorous If he were not both iust and mercifull mercifull and iust caution to preuent sinne were a needlesse care care to perfect sanctity an vnnecessary corasiue either of
which not to iudge most necessary in our selues is an horrible absurdity from which we could not bee freed in iudging of others if wee were once perswaded that the Lord is not either to be drawne to punish or not to be induced to pity For should we not condemne the generation of the iust in powring out their prayers to preuent his wrath sending forth their supplications to obtaine his blessings doubtlesse we should not but account their desires of feruency but friuolous and their deeds of fidelity to be superfluous which absurdity sometime preserued Dauid from a dangerous error and brought him into Gods Sanctuary where wee may learne this as he did the like that the Lord doth both ascend the throne of Iustice and sit in the seat of Mercy vnlesse in contempt of him iniury to our selues iniustice towards others we deny him of freedome power and truth robbing our selues of faith feare and obedience disrobing those who are good of their holy hope and hoped for happinesse vnlesse wee shake hands with the bad whose conuersation expresse their minds corruption and their manners testifie the peruersnesse of their opinion and conceit Heauens happinesse to be a fiction of poesie and hels horror to be only a fable of policy blasphemies abominable blasphemies once to bee imagined We will acknowledge him to be a God abundant in goodnesse and mercy and yet not making the wicked innocent as by all must be confessed For if any might pleade altogether for Gods mercy then Iesus Christ his sonne the engrauen image of his substance participating of his owne essence equall in might and maiesty with himselfe doing nothing which might offend him all things appointed by him his begotten onely begotten his beloued best beloued sonne in whom alone hee is well pleased yet if he became a pawne for sinne he must beare the pangues of sorrow if hee will vndertake the childrens faults he must vndergoe the fathers fury so as though he be preserued because a sonne he shall be punished as a seruant though hee shall weare the crowne of glory as a Conquerour yet first he must beare the brunt of the battel because a Champion so that Christ cannot but confesse him a God of Iustice From which if any other might seeme to be free then the blessed Angels or if any might be thought not to partake of mercy then the infernall and damned spirits but as the former must acknowledge the Lord to be iust though Iustice in them may seeme to be swallowed vp of mercy so the latter must confesse the Lord to be mercifull though mercy in them appeare to be smothered by iustice For if Iustice be to attribute to euery one his due and Gods will be the rule of Iustice seeing that he hath purposed and appointed the blessed Angels continuance in their created condition that condition becomes their due because the Lord is in some sort become their debter not for their worthinesse but of his owne good will Now as to vndoe that which he hath done were to blemish his power to brand him with impotency so not to continue that which he hath once vnalterably decreed shall be conferred is in him apparant iniustice to them manifest iniury In that therefore what he once purposed is still performed what he once intended is neuer desisted the continuance of his will is the continuance of his iustice whereof his will is the Life and Law to which his will giues birth and being rule and direction so as they remaining within the lists of his will cannot bee without the limits of his Iustice For seeing Iustice giueth euery one his due and it is equall and iust that the Creator should binde the creature and the creature obey the Creator in that his commands are in force among them and their obedience performed towards him the blessed Angels must confesse him iust because they may not deny vnto him obedience the badge of Iustice whereby it is discerned as the tree by the fruit the flower by the smell the fire by the heat the seruant by his liuerie Therefore as Bernard De verb. Orig. In coelo sola vtique iustitia nihilominus laetitia so may I say not against his sense and meaning though in Heauen there may seeme to be onely ioy yet there is also iustice for obedience the Liuery of it is there worne and Gods will the Rule of it is there working and howsoeuer mercy is there to them set vp for euer yet his truth is established in the very Heauens But how shall it appeare that his Mercie is manifest in any manner or measure to the damned soules and infernall spirits As for the damned soules herein he is good to them that hee as yet ioyneth not their bodies with them to partake of the same punishment seeing as the body did increase the sinne of the soule while they were vnited so the presence of the body in the course of iustice must augment the tortures sorrowes and pangs of the soule so soone as they are againe conioyned As for the infernall spirits herein his mcrcy towards them is vndeniable in that their decreed and long since iustly deserued torments are not in the greatest and most grieuous measure as yet inflicted as some of themselues seeme to insinuate and insinuating confesse to our Sauiour while they as it were complaine of and repine against him Art thou come to torment vs before the time which is not so to be conceiued as though they were not now tormented but that the greatnesse of their torments is for a time deferred Tormented they now are for can the Malefactor thinke of his doome and his spirits not be daunted with the thought of death Perhaps a Malefactor may be either comforted vpon repentance hoping for a better life or not deiected atheistically conceiting there is hereafter neither better nor worse prepared lot But Satan cleerely apprehends and apprehending certainely knowes the sentence that is decreed to passe against him is as seuere as it is sure and therefore needs must the horrour of his iudgement for the present greatly perplexe him Doth the emptinesse of the Lions entrailes make him roare when he wants and whiles he seekes his prey and shall we not thinke that hee is pinched Doth enuy consume the bones and malice breake out into fury shall we not say that the mind is grieued and the man much vexed Surely then Satan through his vnsatiable desire alwaies hungry and roaring for his prey neuer destitute of enuy and malice 1 Pet. 5.7 in that Gods glory is preserued Christs Kingdome increased those who were farre inferiour to him by created condition and constitution are daily preferred to bee partakers of those ioyes and perfections whereof if not of greater he is and for euer shall be depriued cannot but be much tormented or else whence is it that he is said to rage which is encreased by how much more the day of iudgement draweth neere An vnanswerable argument