(9) according to the foreknowledge of God: And while grace, mercy and peace are upon this loving plot of saving sinners, it was fit that justice truth and righteousness should be called into the same council, to appear for their interest: since the proposal of such a salvation of sinners seems to encroach upon their honour, which required the vengeance due to be executed upon the sinner. Well, the meeting being called, compear these glorious perfections. ‘ Mercy, truth, righteousness and peace,’ mercy and peace full of pity, truth and justice full of fury, which made a seeming controversy in heaven. We may suppose Adam arraigned in the name of all mankind, and standing as a trembling pannel; yea, his very tongue chained up in silence, by reason of sin and guilt, sentenced to eternal death, and ready to have the sentence executed upon him and all his posterity. We may suppose next, the several members of the meeting opening the assembly, by putting in their several claims; and we may notice them in the order of the text. 1. Mercy, being full of pity towards the miserable, comes walking along in the cool of the evening, and meekly craving leave to speak; notwithstanding that truth and justice be present at the meeting. It is true, says mercy, that man hath sinned, and just that man should die; but art not thou, O Lord full of pity and compassion, ' The Lord, the Lord, God pardoning iniquity, transgression and sin.’ What tho’ man hath sinned, and is all over besmeared with mire and blood, yet look upon him in love, and destroy not the works of thy own hands; he was made a child after thy own image, tho' now his garment be rent and all bloody; yet see, is not this thy Son’s coat ? Joseph is gone, and wilt thou lose Benjamin also ? Angels are gone, and shall men be lost also? Miriads of Angels are fallen, and that irrecoverably, and shall man perish also? O spare him ? is he not a little one ? and his soul shall live. I see, might mercy say, that truth righteousness or justice, which have the poor sinner in their chains, are here present ready to speak in this assembly for their interest and honour against criminals: But let it be marked in the minutes of this court, that
B
