to conclude, that the evidence of his goodnefs must be clear and irresistible, when he offers it to trial before the most partial tris bunal, and fubmits his vindication to those very persons who cannot justify him without condemning themselves?

But as finners are naturally disposed to fhun the light, and to turn away their eyes from every thing that hath a tendency to humble and abase them; it may be of ufe to bring this caufe to a fair and open trial: Which, through divine affistance, I propose to do,

ift, By giving you a direct proof of the goodness of God, and of his tender concern for the welfare of his creatures.

2dly, By examining fome of the most plaufible objections which are urged against the mildness and equity of the divine administration.

I will then conclude with a practical improvement of the subject.

I BEGIN with giving you a direct proof of the goodness of God, and of his tender,

concern

concern for the welfare of his creatures.

This appears, in the

If place, From the unwearied patience which he exercifeth towards tranfgreffors. How eafily could he arreft them in the midst of their mad career, and hurry them to judgement with all their provocations on their heads? Might not God have seized thee, O finner, in the very act of fin, with a curfe or a lie in thy mouth, and have ftopped that breath with which thou waft infulting his name and his laws? How often might he have fummoned thee to his dread tribunal in a fit of drunkenness; and made thee fober in that place of torment where there is not a drop of water to cool the thirsty tongue? Ah, how eafy a matter is it for the Almighty to bring down the proudeft of his foes? to filence the profane injurious railer? to bind the hands of the oppreffors, and to make them know that they are but worms? We read of one angel deftroying in one night, an an hundred and fourfcore and five thousand Affyrians: and myriads of angels ftand continually before his throne ready to execute whatVOL. III. E

ever

ever he commands. He is the Lord of Hofts, "who doth according to his will in "the army of heaven, and among the in"habitants of the earth."-How eafily can he throw thee into a bed of languishing? and waste thy ftrength under fuch a pining fickness, or racking pain, as to make thee cry for mercy to him whom thou blafphemeft, and even beg the prayers of those whom thou waft wont to fcorn?

But

God hath as yet done none of these things. By his merciful visitation, he preserves thee in the land of the living, and in the land of hope. He fupplies all thy wants, and loads thee with unceafing benefits. He gave thee that breath which thou haft breathed out against him, and every moment of that time which thou haft íquandered away in idleneis, fenfuality, and the works of the fleth. Why doth he yet wait to be gracious, if he were not tenderly folicitous for thy welfare? Surely his fparing mercy muft be intended to bring thee back to himself: He refrains his wrath, that his goodnefs, like coals of fire, may melt down thine impenitence, and thy haranefs of heart: "The "Lord

"Lord is not flack concerning his promise, (as fome men count flackness,) but is "long-fuffering to us-ward, not willing that

any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." But,

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2dly, The goodness of God, and his tender concern for the welfare of his creatures, still more illustriously displayed in the sufferings and death of our Lord Jefus Chrift, whom God fent into the world for this very end, "that whofoever believeth on him, "might not perish, but have everlasting life." There we see a proof, the most strong and convincing that God himfelf could give, of his having" no pleasure in the death of "the wicked, but rather that he fhould re"turn

.

turn from his way, and live." Would he have ranfomed finners at fo coftly a price as the blood of his only begotten Son? would he have aftonished angels with fo wonderful an act of condefcenfion, as to fend Him who was the "brightness of his glory, and the exprefs image of his per66 fon," to affume the likeness of sinful flesh, to fubmit to the infirmities of our low na

ture, nay, to the ignominy and pain of the cross?

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crofs? had not our everlafting welfare beert an object of his tendereft concern. This furely, if duly confidered, must remove all fufpicions of his goodness, and destroy the jealoufies even of the most distrustful mind. Behold Chrift weeping over the impending fate of Jerufalem, and bemoaning the hardnefs of beart of thofe who attended his

miniftry; view him in his agony, and in his conflict with the powers of darknefs; hear him on the cross praying for his enemies -and then fuppofe, if you are able, that your ruin can be pleafing to him who hath done fo much to prevent it. But, in the

3d place, The various means which God employs for reclaiming men from their ways of folly and vice, afford another proof of his goodness, and of his tender concern for their welfare. He is not only the Author of the gracious plan of our redemption, but he hath likewife fet before us the most powerful motives to perfuade us to embrace his offered favour, and to comply with his designs of mercy. Every confideration, which can be fuppofed to work, ei

ther