by Obadiah Sedgwick
in ePub, .mobi & .pdf formats
This text has been initially updated from EEBO-TCP by Project Puritas, Further revision and editing done by Monergism. Copyright Monergism via universal text usage permission from the above.
"The Bowels of Tender Mercy" by Obadiah Sedgwick is a compelling work of spiritual depth and theological richness that has been republished for the first time since the 1600s. This significant text presents Sedgwick's profound reflections on God’s merciful nature and the expansive grace He extends to His people, providing a detailed exposition of key biblical texts related to God's mercy.
Sedgwick, a prominent Puritan preacher and a member of the Westminster Assembly, originally crafted these sermons to offer comfort and guidance during times of spiritual and social turmoil. His writings delve into the nature of God's mercy, exploring how it operates within the covenant of grace, serves as a motivation for repentance, and becomes a source of immense consolation to believers in every circumstance of life.
Central to Sedgwick's discussion is the depiction of God’s mercy not as an abstract attribute, but as a dynamic and transformative force in the lives of believers. He articulates how mercy does not merely respond to human misery passively but actively works to rescue, restore, and uplift the fallen and the broken-hearted. Sedgwick uses the metaphor of 'bowels of mercy,' drawing from biblical language to emphasize the visceral and profound depth of divine compassion.
This treatise also explores the practical implications of receiving God's mercy, urging believers to reflect this divine attribute in their interactions and to cultivate a spirit of mercy towards others. Sedgwick challenges his readers to consider the mirror of mercy in their lives, promoting a community that embodies forgiveness, grace, and compassion in imitation of Christ.
"The Bowels of Tender Mercy" is a treasure trove of spiritual wisdom, offering timeless insights into the heart of Christian doctrine and practice. Its republication opens a window into the devotional life of the Puritans and presents modern readers with a path to deeper understanding and application of God's compassionate nature in their personal and communal lives. This book is a must-read for those who seek to deepen their understanding of God’s mercy and to experience the transformation it brings to the soul and society.
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Table of Contents
TO THE READER.
PART I. THE EVERLASTING COVENANT
CHAP. I. What a Covenant is - Isaiah 55:3
CHAP. II. Of the Covenant in special.
CHAP. III: Differences of the Covenant of grace, from the Covenant of works.
CHAP. IV: The proper nature of the Covenant.
CHAP. V: And I will make an everlasting Covenant with you
CHAP. VI: And I will make an everlasting Covenant with you. - Isaiah 55:3.
CHAP. VII: The Covenant of Grace considered in relation to Christ the Mediator.
PART. II: THE GIFTS OF THE COVENANT.
CHAP. 1. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you
CHAP. II. That forgiveness of sins is promised
CHAP. III. That God's promise of forgiveness of sins doth extend unto all the sins of all his people
CHAP. IV. That although the sins of persons have been exceeding great, yet when these persons become the people of God in Covenant
CHAP. V. Christ's blood the merit of pardon.
CHAP. VI. That the Lord himself doth promise to forgive the sins of his people in the blood of Christ
CHAP. VII. Sanctification promised as well as Justification.
CHAP. VIII. God gives a new heart and a new spirit to his people in Covenant.
CHAP. IX. A heart of stone in every man.
CHAP. X. The stony heart taken away.
CHAP. XI. God gives a heart of flesh.
CHAP XII: That all the people of God have the Spirit of God
CHAP. XIII: That an obediential observation of the Law or Commandments of God belongs to all people in Covenant with God
CHAP. XIV. Doct. That the people of God are to make progress
CHAP. XV. Doct. That the people of God have the promise of God to enable them to walk in the statutes of God