( 264 ) *But they mutt of Good andEvil, is alike. * The proportion of things requires it., thenbe alike Nowmen under Demerit, under an Obligation to : under Merit andDemerit. and it is a Righteous thing with (-7 od to reconvence tribulation to them. 2 Thef. 1. 6. It being the 7udg_ernent of God,: hat thy who do Acts:: t hings are worthy of Death Rom. 1.32. They then ri.ho are tin- der Brit, have a.Rlght unto that whereofit is To he under Merit, is aftretching word : but if there mull be any force in the Comparifon to be under Merit , muff fignifi2 to be Really, or Reputatively the Meritors of that good ; or that we be the fubjects of that Merit, as we are of the Merit of evil here compared to it. But how eafie had it been to fore-fee that we would deny, eithernon entia, or Infidels to be foUnder Merit; yea or any man living , though a Believer ! And who can find here a word ofproof of anyof this ? For my part I would nei- ther believe it for a world, nor practice according to fuch princi- ples. I durft not go to theholy Godwith fuch a facriFce, and fay, Lord,theproportion of things requires it, that my Condition, while I was a Wicked unbeliever, fhould be alike to Good , as is the Condition of Reprobates to Evil, as to Merit : 1 deferved falvation While I Was an Inpel,a,s well as they deferve Damnation.Then God fhould have done as much injury in damningus, as he had fhewed mercy in faving them. Then it feet-Es you would not fay to God, Thou mighteli have jufily cut me off in my unbelief, and call me into hell but contrarily, Thou couldfl not jufily havedone it. And whether under fuch perfect Merit you think God doth not wrong you , if he inflict on you the leaft Caftigatory penalty I know not 1 And may you not as fairly fay, Lord, I have merited as well, not to con- tinue afinner, under any of thine anger, any penalfuffering, to dye, to lye in the dull till the Refurreflion, (in my body) &c. irs the Re- probates deferve to be damned. The Lord fave me , and all his Church from fuch principles. I cannot fivallow and digeft them, any eafier then I can ceafe tobe a Chriftian. I cannot chofe but fay clean contrary, Lord, I deferve thy wrath, andam by nature a child of Wrath, and thou m;ghteft jufily have cifi me into Hellfrom the womb. 2. Nay to this day , fhould I think thati were under no obligation to punifliment I muff needs think I am :Incapable of pardon, and fo muft forbear to beg pardon, or to take my felf beholden to ( hod for any renewed pardon nor that I ought to Lifer the means for any. Menunited to thrift by Faith, have a bet- ter
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