(248) Pardon, Abfolve, or juilifie, ( bUt only Merit Pardon, Abfolty; tion and juftification to be given by him as King and judge. ) Two things are in the Major to be proved The firft is that par- don and juftification are As of Jefus Chrift : And the proof than anfwer them, that fay, It is enough that it be an Ac of God the I ather for the fake of jef-us Chrift, To which I fay : It would clear much ofthefe matters to mens underftandings, if they would confider this great Truth, that, As it was not man that finned, that did by himfelf (naturally or legally) fatisfie Jultice, fo it was not thought meet that man himfelf should receive the immediate fruit of that fatisfaftion ' but as it was a Mediator that fuffered for us , fo was the world delivered over to the Mediator as Re- deemer of them, as being his own, being bought with a price : and fo the pardon that was immediately granted by the offended Majefty was into Chrifts hands, and not the (inners own that is, A Right of granting out pardon to them as a King-Redeemer, on terms moll agreeable to his ends and intereft : ( with refolu- tion not to do it equally to all, nor with equal fuccefs. ) So that God as the offended Legiflator of the firft Law, upon fa tisfaCtion made, was reconciled, as far as the Intention of the Satisfier and fatisfied did require ; that is, fo far as to Remit all into the Re- deemers hands, and give him Power Right and Comfnifsion to grant Pardon by a newLaw,which fhOuld not be as the old,which was fitted toman in perfection, but a Law of Grace fitted to man in fin and mifery,giving him a Saviour and falvationon con- dition of meer Acceptance. ( Purpofing tocaufe his chofen in- fallibly to accept him.) So that though the Father as Reaor,ac- cording to the old Law, being fatisfied, did give to theRedeemer a Right of pardoning us, and delivered all things into his hand, yet the aftual pardoning of us milt be an aet of the Redeemer himfelf ( and the Father in and by him, as God-Redeemer ) by a Promife, Covenant or Law of Grace, made as King , after the Moral being of his fatisfaetion. Now that Chrift hath made no AC1 to pardon man, but the Lawof Grace, promifing Remifsion and Juftification if we Repent and believe, I fhall thew further in due place. The fecond thing tobe proved in the Major,is,that as Remifsion and Juftification are acs ( or an aa ) of Chrift .fo it is ofChrift as King and Judge. I will firs} prove the former,that Chrift himfelf hathReceived a Right of pardoning. Math. 28. 18,19,
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