107 / 808
VE x.7.
Ephelignr,Chap.
i.
91
abfolutely, which the Popifh fchoole will
not
abide
by.
The
parable
therefore mutt be conflrued by the end which
it is
brought
for,vit.
to
teach that
fuch
as
will not forgive,
(hall
not
find forgiveneffe
with God
;
Neither
is
that
Rom.
;.
where God
is Paid
to
be juft
in
forgiving the
fins
paffed
before time, through
his
patience,
it
maketh not any thing
w
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
ofa
man
before
and
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 God
fhould
as
well preferve and continue this,as at
fiat
give it;and
that
this hismer-
cy fhouldbe more and
more
manifefted
in
us, and
that the
execution
of
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 know
all
our
fins
are
in
regard
of
Gods
gracious fentence remitted
to
us
:
Neither
doth the
Churches
cenfure excommunicating any argue
that
he
is
one
who
be-
forethe
tribunali of
God
is
in
fiate
of
condemnation, or
doth
not con-
tinue united to
Chrift, but
that
he
hath
no manifeft externall
commu.
nion
with her
in
the
duties
ofgodlineffe,
and fecondary
operations
of
the
Spirit ;
yea,that
as
the
Leaper was civilly dead
in
regard
of
civili
communion,
fo
is
he
to
her
in
regard
of
fpitituall; but
the
doth
take
him
to
have inward union
and
life, which
floweth from it ; for even
as
we
feeke
the health
of
none
by
way
of
medicine,
whom
we
cannot
take
to
have
life in
them
;
no more can the
Church the
reftoring
of
thefe
by this
fo fharpe cenfure,
might
the
not thinkethere were fame
life
in
them, though
it
is
oppreffed,
as
the
life
natural' by
a
fit
of
the A-
poplexie.
If
we have
not
all
our
finnes
forgiven, paft, prefent,
to
come,
it
is
becaufe
Chrift bath not the pardon
of them
all
to
give
us
;
or
be-
caufe
the
Word
and Sacraments cannot apply to
us
at
once
the pardon
of
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 none
wil
doubtof,and the latter
is
fondly furmifed,when
thisgrace
which forgiveth
,is
the parent and
nude
of
holy feare
in
us,
Pral.
z
3o.
Wherefore
for
this
firft
part,let
us afiure
our felves,God
doth give
us
fui
pardon
of
al
our
frnnes,&
that
this his gift is,as his effeftuall
calling,with-
outrepentance, and we beleeving,doe
receive 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
of
God
and
his
gracious
gift
in
vaine
;
which,concerning Gods
forgiveneffe, fo far as
they
con-
ceive
it
to extend, the belt
ofthe
Papifts Schoole maintaineth.
Now
to
Phew
that the whole
guilt
and punifhment
is
releafed.
Such
who
are fet free from all
condemnation,
are as
well
fet free
from
temporali
as
eternal'.
Now
all
in
Chrift
are
thus
fet
free,&c.
Such
who
are fet free
from
the
curie
of
the Law,
are fet free from
temporal'
punifhments
of
fume
;
fuch I meane,as
come from
revenging
juftice,