VE x.7. Ephelignr,Chap. i. 91 abfolutely, which the Popifh fchoole will not abideby. The parable therefore mutt be conflrued by the end which it isbrought for,vit. to teach that fuchas will not forgive, (hall not find forgiveneffe with God ; Neither is that Rom. ;. where God is Paidtobe juft in forgiving the fins paffedbefore time, throughhis patience, it maketh not any thingw this purpofe 5 forfinnes are faid to be before committed,which were com- mitted under the former teftament, as Heb.9. it is made plaine, and fo not the time ofaman beforeand after converfion, but the time before . and after,or under the new Teftament is there compared : and howbeit' wee are (till to feeke forgivene(fe, it is not that we are not in fiate of being juftified and forgiven, but becaufe it is needfull that Godfhould as well preferve and continue this,as at fiat give it;and that this hismer- cy fhouldbe more and moremanifefted in us, and that the executionof this fentence fhould be further and further performed. Finally, that the Fatherly chaftifements our fins daily incurre might be prevented ; for thefe caufes we make this petition, though we knowall our fins are in regard of Gods gracious fentence remitted to us : Neither doth the Churches cenfure excommunicating any argue that he is one whobe- forethe tribunali of God is in fiate of condemnation, or doth not con- tinue united to Chrift, but that hehath no manifeft externall commu. nion with her in the duties ofgodlineffe, and fecondary operationsof the Spirit ; yea,that as the Leaper was civilly dead in regardofcivili communion, fo is heto her in regardof fpitituall; but the doth take him to have inward union and life, which floweth from it ; for even as we feeke the healthof none by way ofmedicine, whomwe cannot take to have life in them ; no more can the Church the reftoring of thefe by this fo fharpe cenfure, might thenot thinkethere were fame life in them, though it is oppreffed, as the life natural' by afit of the A- poplexie. Ifwe havenot all our finnes forgiven, paft, prefent, tocome, it is becaufe Chrift bath not the pardon of them all to giveus ; or be- caufe theWord and Sacraments cannot apply to us at once the pardonof them all ; or becaufe our faith cannot receive this plenary remiilion ; or elfe it is not fit for fome eonfequence which would enfue:butthe former three nonewil doubtof,and the latter is fondly furmifed,when thisgrace which forgiveth,is the parent andnude of holy feare in us, Pral. z 3o. Wherefore for this firft part,let us afiure our felves,God doth give us fui pardonofal our frnnes,& that this his gift is,as his effeftuall calling,with- outrepentance, and we beleeving,doereceive this whole mercy:So that though we are fubjett to grievous falls afterit andunbeleefe, yet notto any filch unbeleefe as (hall ever make the faith ofGodandhis gracious gift in vaine ; which,concerning Gods forgiveneffe, fo far as they con- ceive it to extend, the belt ofthe Papifts Schoole maintaineth. Now toPhew that the wholeguilt and punifhment isreleafed. Such who are fet free from all condemnation, are as well fet free from temporali as eternal'. Now all in Chrift arethus fet free,&c. Suchwho are fet free from the curie ofthe Law, are fet free from temporal' punifhments of fume ; fuch I meane,as come from revenging juftice,
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