Selected quad for the lemma: sin_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
sin_n	gift_n	life_n	wage_n	3,267	5	10.5376	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A55752	Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity and duty of Gods children by the late Reverend and Faithfull Minister of Jesus Christ, John Preston ...	Preston, John, 1587-1628.	1658 (1658)	Wing P3306; ESTC R13568	328,523	450

of those that perish though he be rich in mercy yet his mercy contradicteth not his libertie he hath a libertie to do what he pleaseth having a soveraigntie over all creatures he is free to chuse more or fewer to his kingdom as he pleaseth and to exercise his severitie as he will Lastly in that it is said hee reapeth where he doth not sow I answer he doth not reape where he doth not sow and therefore in that he sheweth not himselfe a hard master for there are none condemned for more then is revealed to them the Gentiles that had no more then the law of nature revealed to them they are condemned for no more but for the breach of the law of nature If the Gospel never came amongst them it shall never be required at their hands And so the Jews those amongst them that had no more but the old testament made known to them shall never be condemned for rejecting the Gospel but for the breach of that law which they had So Christians as their means have been more as their light is more as more truth hath been revealed to them so God will require more at their hands as he soweth more seed so he will look for a greater Crop at the harvest amongest Christians those that are ignorant if there be no fault in themselves he will not punish for that they know not his will A Second answer to this is that there is a great difference if we consider the manner of Gods shewing mercy for First the primarie intent of God was to shew mercy to all the creatures to men and angels both now the execution of his wrath came in by the way as it were and by occasion that when his mercy took no place then there was a place found for his justice First he began with mercy he set the angels in a hapy condition Justice now came in when his mercy took no place so to mankinde he first began with mercy and set him in a happy estate if mercy might have taken place there had been no room or his wrath for as we say of bees that naturally they give honey they sting not but when they are provoked so God naturally propensely and readily sheweth mercy to the Creatures he never exerciseth his wrath but when we offend him by our words or works Thirdly You must consider that God is exceeding rich in mercy in that he offereth mercy to mankinde it lieth manifested to all if they will not take it it detracts not from his mercy now all mankinde hath had mercy manifested to them it lyeth open to them if they take it not it is not because he is not rich in mercy but because they will not accept it Fourthly He is merciful even to evil men to them he declareth the riches of his patience and long suffering to bear with them from day to day to feed them to cloath them to preserve them and yet they make conscience of nothing their lives are a continual rebellion against him is not here therefore a great deal of mercy manifested Doth he not as the Apostle saith bear with much patience the vessels of wrath fitted for destruction Last of all put together the manner of the execution of his wrath and of his mercy and you shall see this difference look what wrath there is executed in the world and you may thank your selves for it The congregation of Corah the text saith Numb 16. destroyed themselves Mercy is not so that cometh from God the day spring from on high hath visited us Luke 1. Thy Destruction is of thy selfe oh Israel saith the Prophet but we may thank him for his mercy the wages of sin is death that cometh as our due debt but the guift of God is eternal life that cometh freely Again the justice of God is but even measure the just wages of an hireling just no more then our sins deserve but the mercy of God runneth over the brink as a mighty sea over his bounds so doth not the other therefore his mercy is exceeding great conclude it therefore and set it down in your own hearts be perswaded of it your selves and be ready to glorify him before the sons of men Last of all the use of this point shall be this that if it be the glory of God to be merciful then labour to imitate his mercy for every excellent thing that is glorious is worthy to be imitated therefore imitate God in this so the scripture would have us be you merciful as your heavenly father is merciful and so again Col. 3. as the elect of God put on tender mercy that is if God be merciful be you merciful likewise and so Ephes 1. forgive one another And why as dear children be you followers of God c. he is so therefore be you so make this use therefore of Gods being merciful be you merciful as he is merciful that is consider the miseries of others and wherein you may be helpful to them and be ready to shew them mercy upon any occasion As it is the glory of God to shew mercy so as Solomon saith it is the glory of a man to passe by an infirmity that is to passe by the faults of others to shew mercy to them to forgive them and not to take things in the worst sence this is acceptable to God for mercy pleaseth him far better then Sacrifice all the duties that you perform to God though you serve him in all the parts of his worship yet put these and shewing of mercy unto men together and he esteemeth mercy to man before all for Isay 58. 6. when the people had fasted and performed those duties to the full yet notwithstanding God makes this exception Is this the fast that I have chosen is it not to break every yoake to relieve the oppressed to shew mercy c. therefore my brethren be readie to shew mercy for in so doing you shall imitate God that is it which indeed makes you good men every man would be a good man now goodness standeth in this to be merciful for goodness is but a relative terme and it standeth in conformity with the chiefest good So carry your selves therefore that you may be counted good men that you may have a good eye which is nothing but this to be ready to do good to those whom you see in miserie herein your goodness consisteth all that you do without it is not accepted whatsoever goodness you do unto men if it be without mercy if it proceed not from that as it is said of love if you give your body to be burned and yet have not love it is nothing So it may be said of mercy God acaccepteth of no action that you performe unlesse it come from mercy labour therefore to have a mercifull heart that so all your works may come from a good principle for actions are not good except they come from some grace