146 The Covenant of Works Chap.2o. tfjai laugh now, forZye fhall weep and lament, Luke 6. zs. Where is the unbeleevers promife , when the Lord fay es , He that be- leeveth not,ù condemned already; becaufe he loath not beleeved in the name of the only begotten fon of God, John 3.18. Where is the im- penitent mans promife, when the 'Ffalmift faith The Wicked , !hall be turned into hell, Pfal. 9.17. and the Apoflle, That no un- righteous perfon (hall enter into the Kingdome of Heaven, i Cor. 6.9. But inflance is given, Ifa, 43.25. 1 am he that blotteth out thy tranfgre /ons for shine own names fake. But this is not the unbe- leeving, the impenitent mans tranfgreffions, they Itill Rand on record, and the bond uncancelled. This excludes motives from us, not graces wrought in us ; when God juftifies a Beleever, it's for his own name fake, or elfe he is a lofer in his glory., when he C juftifies thofe that beleeve in Jefus, Rom. 3.26. and Faith gives not glory to God, as Rom. 4.20. but takes glory from him. As Peter faid of the creeple that was cured ; His name, through faith in his name, loath made this manJrong, A.s 3.16. So we may fay of every finner juftified and pardoned , his name, through faith in his name hath acquit and freed him. When God pardons a penitent man , it is not for the merit of his returne that he par- dons him; then Peter who is fo zealous to advance his name in the place quoted , had not prefently urged ; Repent and be converted, that yourfins may be blotted out When the times of re frefhing !hall come from the prefence of the Lord, As 3.19. It is not for his honour to pardon any other. This is with him a.rulewhich he will for ever follow : Thole that honour me , 1 will honour and they that def»ife me, !hall be lightly of eemed, I Sam. 3. 3o. The fame Authour faith, Conditions andqualifications are mentioned in fame promifes; and therefore (as we may fafely inferre) are un- derftood in all promifes of life and falvation unleffe God deny himfelf, who hath threatned death and condemnation againft an unqualified man, namely the unbeleeving and impenitent ; and therefore hath not promifed them life and falvation. Beleeving penitent ones have the promifes of life to be made good to them, exclufively to all others. To lead the finner to Chrift for the gain- ing of the qualifications of grace in theway of his Ordinances, it is to lead hire right ; He is the Authour of our faith, and he is a Prince to give repentance. But to perfwade a finner to look for life, in the want of all thefe, or to tell him of Affurance of life
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