374 Oe patntonpOf ire taíbine littríÜutc. Chap, Heaven is the rewardof perfeveringObedience: To them Ley- ) who by patient continuance in well-doingfeek for glory, and Rcm a 7' honour, and immortality; eternal life. There cannot be the leafs groundof a rational juft Hope in any perfon with- John out Holinefs : Yhoeverhaththis hope in him,pures him- felfeven as he is pure. -By which it appears, that thege- nuine and proper ufewe,are tomake of the exceeding great andprecious Fromifes, is, That by them we may be partakers ofthe Divinelttature,andefcape thepollution that aPct. t. 4. is in the World through tuft. Yet the corrupt hearts of men are fo firongly enclined to their lulls, that they tarn the Grace of God into wantonnefs, and make an ad- vantage ofMercy to affifl their fecurity ; prefuming to fin with-lefs fear and more licence, upon the account of the glorious Revelation of it by our Redeemer. The mofi live as iftheymight be favedwithout beingSaints, andenjoy the Paradife of the Flefh here and not be ex- cluded from that ofthe Spirit hereafter. But Grace dothnot indie leaft degree authorize and favour their Lulls, nor relax the Sinews ofObedience ; 'tis perfe l- ly innocent oftheir unnatural abufe of it. The Poifon is not in the Flower, but the Spider. Therefore the Apfle propounds it with indignation, Shall we fin that Grace may abound,: Godforbid. He ufes this form of fpeech, to exprefs an extreme abhorrency of a thing, Rom. 6. I2 that is either impious and difhonourable to God, or pernicious and deftru6ive to men. As when heputs Rom. 3. f. 6, the queflion, Is God unjufi who taketh vengeance :' God forbid; and, Is there iniquity in God :' God forbid. Rom. 9 14 He rejehs the mention ofit with infinite averfation. In- deed what greater difparagement can there be ofthe Divine Purity, than to indulge our felves in Sin upon confidence ofan eafie Forgivenefs :' As ifthe Son of God had been confecrated by filch terrible Sufferings, to purchafe and preparea Pardon for thofe who Sin fe- curely
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