2 10 Of2 n iwof t$je Zibine ttPibutez, Chal ;f I but the wicked his foul hates. Now the Juftice of -. God is founded in his Sovereignty and his Holinefs, and the reafon why 'tis exercifed againft Sin, is not an arbitrary Constitution, but his Holy Nature, to which Sin is repugnant. Thefe things being premifed, it fol. low s, That Cod in the relation of aGovernour is Pro te&or of thole Sacred Laws, which are to dire& the Reafonable Creature. And as 'twas molt reafonable that in the 6rft giving the Law , He should lay the ftrongeft reftraint upon Man for preventing Sin, by the threatning of Death, the greateft evil in it felf, and in the effimation of Mankind; fo 'tis molt congruous to Reafon, when the command was broke by Mans Rebel- lion, that the Penalty fhould be infliered either on his Perlon, according to the immediate intent of the Law, or fatisfa&ionequivalent to the offence fhould be made, that the Majefty and Purity of God might appear in his Juftice, and there might be a vifible difcovery of the value He puts on Obedience. The life of the Law depends upon the execution of it: for impunity occaÍons a contempt of juftice, and by extenuatingSin in the account ofMen, incourages to the free commiffionof it. If Pardon be eafilyobtained, Sin will be eafily committed. Crimes unpunifht feem .authorifed. The firft temptation was prevalent by this perfwafon, that no punifhment would follow. Be- tides, if upon the bold violation of the Lawno punifh ment were infliCted, not only the glory of God's Ho- linefs would be oblcured, as if He did not love Righ- teoufnefs and hate Sin, but fuffered the contempt of the one, and the commilionof the other without controul but it would either reflect upon His Wifdom, as if He had not upon juft reafon eftablifht an alliance between the Offence and the Penalty; or upon His Power, as if He were not able to vindicate the Rights of Heaven. And
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