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ing of thy miseries, not willing to punish and put thee to pain, but ready to succour and do thee good.

But I am so vile and so ill-deserving, that there is nothing in me to move him to pity me, and do me good!

2. He is gracious; whom he loves, he loves freely, of his own gracious disposition, Hosea xiv. 4; I, even I, am he that blots out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins, Isa. xliii. 25. And when God saith he would sprinkle clean water upon sinners, and that he would give them a new heart, &c. not for your sakes do I this, saith the Lord God, Ezek. xxxvi. 25, 26, 32. That you should be sensible of your own misery, and then, in the sense thereof, that God may be inquired after, and sought unto for mercy, is all which he expects from you to move him to pity and mercy, Ezek. xxxvi. 37; and such is his graciousness, that he will work this sense and this desire in you, that he may have mercy.

But I have a long time provoked him!

3. He is long-suffering towards you, not willing that you should perish, but that you should come to repentance, 2 Peter iii. 9, 15; he waits still for your repentance and reformation, that you may be saved.

Yea, but I am destitute of all goodness and grace to turn unto him, or do any thing that may please him!

4. He is abundant in goodness and kindness; he that has been abundant towards others heretofore in giving them grace, and making them good, his store is not diminished, but he has all grace and goodness to communicate to you also, and to make you good.

Yea, but I fear, though God can, yet God will not forgive me, and give me grace!

5. He is abundant in truth; not only the goodness of his gracious disposition makes him willing, but the abundance of his truth binds him to be willing, and does give sufficient proof unto you that he is willing. He has made sure promises to take away your sin, and to forgive it; and not yours only, but reserves mercy for thousands. Believe therefore that God both can and will forgive you.