Proposition 3

PROPOSITION III.

2. That God keeps an exact account of all this patience, and these pains. He has a Book of memorial, in which he enters upon the record all his layings out upon them. Books of Register are in the Scripture ascribed to God, after the manner of men, to intimate to us, that he has the exact account of such things with him, that he keeps them in remembrance, and forgets none of them. For this reason we have him so often, in his word, giving his people close hints of what he had been doing for them at this & that time, and how long he had been at it (Jeremiah 25:2), and elsewhere. He observes and keeps the account how many Sermons they have heard, what Counsels were given to them here and there, how many Sabbaths they have had the advantage of, how many of his servants he has sent to speak to them, what they said; how many applications his Spirit has made to their souls, how long it is from the first day to this. And if any shall enquire, what makes God so accurate in recording these memorials, there are two reasons for it.

1. God sets an high value upon these favours of his which he thus affords to men. He looks upon them to be extraordinary kindnesses, that any should be planted in his Vineyard, and there have the privilege of all the tendance of it: he therefore says of such, that he has known them after a singular manner (Amos 3:2), and there is never a day wherein men are spared notwithstanding their unprofitableness, never an approach that he makes to them, but it is of great worth. They are favours which carry in them singular demonstrations of his good will, and they bring with them the greatest advantages to the children of men, who deserve none of them. God challenges men, if they can, to tell him, what he could have done more for them: well then may he keep the records of them.

2. God intends to call sinners that have neglected them, to an account about them. They are indeed free favours, if we consider our merit, and we could never have claimed them, or God's liberty who had no obligation from us to bestow them upon us: but they are not so free as to be forgotten, or as if we were no way concerned whether we use or abuse them. No, in the day of accounts, which is coming, they are all to be reckoned for. When the Lord made up the reckoning with his servants, he dealt with each of them according to the number of talents which they had received of him. Sabbaths, Sermons, and Sacraments; and mercies, and afflictions must be answered for. Now that a true reckoning may be made, an exact account must be kept, men must be made debtors in God's Book for all these items; they must be charged in order to their being answered for; and that they may so be, they must be registered.