Selected quad for the lemma: mercy_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A33242
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The time of finding shewing when the Lord will be found and by whom, and when there will be no time of finding : also the persons are describ'd who shall not finde the Lord though they seek him with tears : likewise some reasons why the Lord hath suffered his work and good old cause to be stopt, and how it shall certainly be reviv'd again : also something is here shewed about the manner how it shall be reviv'd, and the time when / by John Canne.
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Canne, John, d. 1667?
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1658
(1658)
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Wing C442C; ESTC R25965
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112,945
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284
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on the rest If a father be spoken unto concerning a rebellious child and counselled to cast him off what saith he Ah! I am his father I cannot do it I must yet try some other means and exercise longer patience towards him Indeed we have not as the Lord hath Fatherly bowels towards Christs sheep going astray our passion is such we would sometimes have them cast off and lookt no more after but what saith the Lord I cannot doe so I am their Father I must wait yet that I may be gracious to them If there be but a little corn among a great deal of chaff the husbandman will have that forth before he burns the chaff For conclusion Let us earnestly seek the Lord that he will pluck all Zions sons out of Babylon and plant their feet in the pleasant paths of Christ this being done I say the wheat being separated the tares straightwayes will be cast into the lake of fire where will be no Time of finding CHAP. III. Certain grounds and reasons wherefore there will be A TIME OF FINDING 1. In respect of God himself 2. In respect of his people 3. In respect of the Cause or Things they seek him for Reasons why there will be a time of finding both in respect of God his people and Cause 1. In respect 〈◊〉 himself Because he is good and his tender mercies are fâ—â—ever THe Lord will be found in respecâ— of himself First Because he iâ— good and his mercy endureth for ever p Psa 25.6 Remember O Lord saith David thy tender mercies and thy loving kindnesses for they have been ever of old You cannot touch a man so soft and easie upon the apple of his eye but he will feel it What are the tears groanings and sighings of Saints but as the touch of a finger upon the apple of Gods eyes there is nothing we can doe whereof the Lord is more sensible and hath more feeling then of Soul-travelling sobs and pangs It is usual in the Prophets when they are exhorting people to seek the Lord by fasting and prayer for their encouragement to mention how pitiful and full of bowels the Lord is q Joel 2.12 13. Turn ye unto me saith the Lord with all your hearts with fasting and with weeping with mourning rent your hearts not your garments and turn unto the Lord your God Now observe the reason or motive to it For he is gracious and merciful slow to anger and of great kindness and repenteth him of the evil As if he should say r 2 Sam. 24 14. You fall not into the hand of man but into the hands of the Lord whose mercies are exceeding great and will Å¿ Psal 103.13 pity you as a father pitieth his children So in another Prophet * Mic. 7.18 19. Who is a God like unto thee that pardoneth iniquity and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage he retaineth not his anger for ever because he delighteth in mercy he will turn again and have compassion upon us c. Note one passage here He delighteth in mercy If it be a thing a man well likes and takes great pleasure in it you need not press him very much to it he will be free and forward enough of himself to doe it for you It is true when the Lord is to afflict his people here he seems to be t Lam. 3.33 VNWILLING it is not from his heart as the Hebrew reads he delights not in it but it causeth him to fetch a groan or sigh u Isa 1.24 Ah! woe is me x Hos 6.4 11.8 How shall I give thee up my heart is turned within me c. But to be found of his children and to heap blessings upon them here is his delight in this his Soul is well pleased y Psa 12.5 For the oppression of the poor for the sighing of the needy now will I arise saith the Lord. If you mark the word NOW it makes the sence thus As if the Lord should say I cannot see my oppressed ones in tears any longer before me my bowels so yearn at their groanings that I must forthwith arise against their proud and cruel enemies If men who are evil having pity and compassion in them cannot but regard the sighs and cries of poor distressed creatures and their hearts will be drawn out to relieve them a Luk. 18.7 8. And shall not God avenge his own elect which cry day and night unto him I tell you that he will avenge them speedily It was a proverb among those of Genoa when any was injured to say unto him that had done the wrong If you will not right me my Lord Marshal will with more certainty may Christs persecuted members say to Tyrants and proud Hypocrites Whereas we are imprisoned by you and spoyled of our goods our God will right us though you do not to your confusion If Benhadab had ground of hope that Ahab would shew him favor because b 1 King 20.31 The Kings of the house of Israel were merciful Kings with what full assurance then may the present mourners in Zion expect a Time of finding he being the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort unto whom they make supplications and prayers Secondly The Lord will be found because of his word and promise sake Reas 2. He wil be found for his promise sake Among men there are some who will not break their promise for any thing Ruth having told her mother in law what Boaz had promised to do for her what saith Naomi to it c Rut. 3.18 Sit still my daughter until thou know how the matter will fall for the man will not be in rest until he have finished the thing this day Is there so much heed and conscience in man a poor worm to be faithful to his ingagement what may we think of God d Tit. 1.2 That cannot lie e Jam. 1.17 with whom is no variableness neither shadow of turning but alwayes speaketh in faithfulness and truth Now we read in Holy Scripture that the Lord promiseth there shall be a TIME OF FINDING f Psa 50.15 Call upon me in the time of trouble and I will deliver thee Observe how he speaks here like himself like a God as one that hath all power in his hands and can doe whatsoever he pleaseth I WILL DELIVER THEE If a poor man come to us for relief such may his case be as we cannot promise to help him but tell him we will do our best and help him if we can But the Lord speaks not by iffs and may be but promiseth certain deliverance g Mat. 8.3 I will be thou clean The like in Isaiah h Isa 45.19 I said not to the seed of Iacob Seek ye me in vain I the Lord speak righteousness I declare things that are right Suppose a beggar should have an ingagement under the hand of