-.,.....,... 328' The Life of Faith, the truth is,that our Pardon andJu'tification in Right gocth fiat, which God cffc&th by his Covenant -gift : And then God efeeuvcrb us jwff or pardoned,when by pardon he hath made us jut# : and if there beany fentrssce,or any thing equivalent before thcday of Judgement or de h,he next fenretseetb us Jufi, and hilly, he ufetb us as juff, that is, as pardoned (all fins of omit (ion and commilfion) which is by taking off all punifhment both of pain (or fcnfe) and lofs; of which part thc giving of his Spirit, is the chief ad on this fide our Glorification. Note therefore that thus far no Protcffant can deny to the Papilis, nor will do, that Sandification and Jullificatíon are all one, that is, that God having pardoned us ,4 jar,, cloth pardon us executively, by giving us his forfeited Spirit and Grace ; and by all the communion which we have after with him, and the comfort which we have from him. And further let it be well noted, that the nature of this executive Pardon or }uffífscati,n (ofwhich read Mr. JLtcikis at large) is far better known to us, than the nature of Gods fentential Pardon and Jufiification : and therefore there is leta eontrovcrfic about ir. For what it is to forbear or take ofa punifbment, is eafily undettlood : But though moil Prottllants fay, that Jufiftcation is a fentence of God, thry arc not agreed what that fentence is. Some think (truly) that our fist} J+a_ fiiflcation by Faith is but a virtual fentence of the Law of Grace, 'bywhich we muff be judged. Others fay that by a fentexee is meant Gods jeerer mental eftimation : Others fay, that as Angels arc hiscxcautioners; fo it is before them (where Soy is Paid to be fora finncrs convarfìon) Luke 15. that loth declare and J rterceuspardoned and jute. Others think that there is no frnrencebut Gods notification of pardon to our cots Meares, or giving us the fenfe or knowledge of it. Others think that there is no fentrnce till death, orpabliek Judgment. Others fay that God dab festence us jut`i, though we know not where, not bow. And Mr. Lawful noteth, that (as all coofefs that God hath no voice, but a created voice ; and therefore teeth mot words as we unlcfs what Chrifi as man may do in that we know not ; fo) his fentence is nothing but his decla- ration that he effeeweti us pardoned and juil in title , which is principally, if not only, by his execution, .and taking off all penalties
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