inContrt1íng n'ß ebernptton; 283 we may be juflified, is to deny the value of his Righte- Chap 5. oufnefs, and the truth of his Afcenfion. And faynot, ,,,,4»,. , who(hall defcendinto the deep, to bear the Torments of Hell, and expiate Sin ' This is to deny the vertue ofhis Death, whereby he appeafed God, and redeemed us from the wrath to come. In the Law the condemning R ighteoufnefs ofGod is made vifible, in the Gofpel his juftifying Righteoufnefs is revealed,fromFaith toFaith. R(411. r° I7 And this is an infallible proof of its divine defcent.For whereas all other Religions either flupifie Confcience, andharden it in carnal Security, or terrifie it by conti- nual Alarms of Vengeance ; the Gofpel alonehath dif- covered how God may fhewmercy to repenting Sin- ners without injury to his Juflice. The Heathens robb'd one Attribute to enrich another. Either they conceived 'God tobe indulgent to their Sins, and eafie topardon, to the prejudiceofhis Jul ice or cruel and revengeful, to the difhonour of hisGoodnefs : But Chriflians are in- ftru&ed how thefe are wonderfully reconciled and mag- nified in our Redemption. From hence there is a divine calm in theConfcience, and that .Peace whichpaffeth Un- derJlanding. The Soul is not'only freed from the Fear ofGods anger,but hath a lively Hope of his Favour and Love. This isexprefl by the Apoftle,whenhe reckons among the Priviledges of Believers, that they are come to God the ludg ofall, and to ^efus the Mediator of the xCt'. r:. Z New- Covenant, aná to the Blood of f]'rinkling that fpeaks better things than the bloodofAbel. The apprehenfionof God as theJudg oftheworld,flrikes the guilty with fear and terror ; but as He is fweetned by theMediator, we may approach toHimwith confidence. For what Sins are there which fo entire aSatisfaction doth notexpiate, What Torments can theydeferve,which his wounds and 'tripes have not removed ' God is Jufl as well as Mer- ciful injuflifying thofe who believe in Iefus. 'Tis not O o z the
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