Page:Harmony of the divine attributes displayed in the redemption and salvation of sinners by Jesus Christ.pdf/44

( 44 ) the little faith of this heavenly divine meeting : For all the saints that are under the lively views'thereof, cannot but desire to meet together, and embrace each other harmoniously, in the arms of mutual love. 5. -Hence, see the malignity of the sin of unbelief, the great employment whereof is, to spoil the harmony of the divine perfections; and to do its utmost to dissolve that glorious meeting, and separate what God hath joined, saying, in effect, they have not met together, nor kissed each other. This we may discern in the unbelief whether of secure or awakened sinners See it in the unbelief ot the secure sinner, who sets Truth and righteousness out of the meeting, saying, God Is a merciful God, and I shall have peace, though l walk in the imagination of my own heart, adding drunkenness to thirst. Thus they hope in God’s mercy, and speak peace to themselves, while they never view the Truth and Righteousness of God, and how the credit thereof shall be salved, or the honour thereof repaired: And hence, as faith is said to set to the seal, that God is true, or that he is a God of Truth, so unbelief is said to make God a liar, to fancy that God will have mercy on their souls, without regarding the truth of his threatenings, is to make God a liar, and say, Mercy and truth have not met together ; to think that God will be at peace with them, while his Righteousness and justice are not satisfied, is to make God a liar, and say, Righteousness and Peace have not met together. Thus the unbelief of the secure sinner puts Truth and Righteousness out of the meeting.-—Again, on the other hand, the unbelief of the awakened sinner, puts mercy and peace out of the meeting, saying, O! He is a God of Truth, and how shall he have mercy on the like of me? He is a God of awful justice and righteousness, and how will he be at peace with me? What is the language of this ? But that mercy and peace have not met with tiuth and righteousness; here is a making God a liar also, and separating what God hath in the gospel declared to be joined. Behold then, the malignity of unbelief, it breaks the glorious meeting, and will not let them kiss one another. The presuming sinner will not let God have the glory of his truth and rightousness.