éphtans,Chap.I, V E R,7, hating thefe lying vanities, whichwould makethe grace ofGod not to forgive, but to change agreater punifhment into a feller. In outward matters, we will Rand for the utmoft of our liberty , not fufferinga word ofour Charters to be reftrained, and (hall we beare it, that when God giveth us in Chrift a pardonofall our finnes, men fhould limit it to finnes before Baptifine, of finnes in regard oftheir eternal! punifh- ment a In humane matters, we hold that claufes which are in favour to us, are to be cenfured in the amplcft manner which they may beare with probabiliry. Doll. Obferve laftly, in this feventh verfe, from whence it is that God givethus pardon offinne, even from his rich grace: This made theSaints in the old Teftament flye to Gods manifold and tender mercies, and feele in them remillìonof finne. See Exod ,64.lehovah, gracious, merci- fill, rich in krndeneffe, forgivingfinne andiniquities : As if the riches of his grace were in this ad above all others manifeft. Ifa. 43. Formy ewne fake doe I put away thy finne ; not foryourfake, butfor myowrenames fake, will I purge you, andwall) youfrom your finnes, 0you houfe ofIfiael Ezec i. 36. We lee that giving benefits, though it commethfrom kindenefi'e, yet it doth not any thing fo much teftifie the clemency andkindeneffe ofour natures, as the bearing and palling injuries which doe highly pro- vokr us ; this then is the fruitof Gods molt rich grace : Indeed nothing but grace can forgive, forgiveneffe being a free pardoningof frame offence, without taking any revenge or fatisfacction. I cannot for- give that fault , for which I take my revenge, or fomething which doth countervaile the injury offered; Juftice may caufe revenge, but abject, cannot forgive.But howcan God outof hisrich graceforgiveourfinnes, whenhe doth not forgive them, but upon the blondofhis Sonne fhed for us, as a ranfome or redemptione That which weget upon a ranfome tendered, that is from juftice due to us, not from freegrace given us. Reff, Many limit this fentence thus ; That we receive ona ranfome which our felves tender, that is due,not on a ranfome which is given us out of grace;but this feemeth not to anfwer the difficultie:for what I purchafe with money never fo mercifully beftowed on me, is mine in juftice, though the money were not mine till mercy did furnifh me with it : A price ofredemption, Ergo, mull be confidered twowaies. r. As athing demanded of juftice,that She may in lieu doe fomething upon it; thus Chriftsblood was no ranfome; For juftice did not call him to this mediatour-like, and prieftly office, nor bid him lay downe his life. a.It muff be confidered as a thing provided and injoyned by mercy, that by ir, asby ameane, mercy may doe fomething juflly, which otherwife She might not; and fuch a ranfome is Chrift hisblond, and Ergo, doth excellently accord with free grace, and the workeofgrace in every thing. obj. But when Chrift his obedience is fuch as ceafeth It s gods mo. juftice, how can God outof grace releafe to this obedience that punifh- gy, o,n t m°nr of finne, from which now juftice in regard of it hath ceafed e i, f,.om I Arfre. Becaufe the obedience of the Sonne is due to the Father, and iuíhce. may be requited from the Sonne of duty, to be rewarded at his pleafure:
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