C Ii A P. 2ó. After -fins & punishmeyits do tot nnll jafliftcatian. 277 not , at leatl, gradually impaire the State of Juftification, as fins do im- paire and weaken SanElification ? I anftvere ( and this may further help to clear thebufinefs under hand ) The reaf 9n is manifeft , from the difference, that is betwixt thefe twobleffìng and benefites; gufliffcation is an aEl of God, changing the Relative-ftate of a man , and fo is done and perfeetcd in a mo- ment: Sanctification is a progreffive work of God , making a real phyfical change, in the man ; whence fin mayxetard this or put it back , but cannot dofo, with the other, which is but one tingle aEd, once done, and never recalled, the gifts and calling of God being without repentance Rpm. it: z9. In juftification we are meetly paflïve, it being a fentence of God pronunced in our Favpurs; inSandification, as we are in fome refpeEt patients , fo are we alfo Agents , and AElors, and thus fin may retard us in our motion and as it evidenceth our weaknefs for aEling, fo it produceth more weaknefs. Moreover Sin and Holinefs are oppofite to other , as light and darknefs , & therefore , as the one prevaileth , the other mutt go under , and as the one increafeth , the other muff decrees(. But There is no Inch Oppofirion betwixt fin , & pardon , which is granted in Juflification. And whereas -it may be faid that fin expelleth all() grace Meritoriouf y : yet that prejndgeth not the truth in hand for it can expell grace meritorioufly no further , than she free conflitution of God bath limited and fo though it can and oft doth ex- pell many degrees of SanElification; yet it cannot expell & make null the grace of Regeneration ; or the Seed of God , fo no more can it expell or an- nul juflification ; becaufe the good pleafure of God , hath fecured the -one & the other & made them both unalterable. By thefe particulars , we fee how the firfi doubt is removed out ofthe way ; we shall next fpeak to the Second , which is concerning affli&ions, & Punishments, which are the fruits and deferts of fin , and feem to be part of the curie or penalty threatned in the firtl Covenant : To which we need not fay much to show, that notwithftanding hereof, the State of utlifica- tion remains firme , and unaltered. Thefe few things will fufhice to cleare the truth.. 1. Though all affli Eiion , and fuffering be the fruite & confequent of the breach of the Covenant by Adam, the head of mankind, for if h&had flood, and the Covenant had not been violated, there had been no Mifery, affli ion Death or Suffering : and though in all ., who are afiEled in this world, there is fin to be found ; And though it cannot be inftanced, that Cod ever brought an affiióling or deflroying ftroke upon a Land or Nation , but for the provocations of the People; yet the Lord may fome times afiól outwardly Or inwardly , or both, a particular Perlon, in fome pàrficular manner, though not as provolld thereunto by that perlons fin, or without a fpecial reference to their fin , as the procuring Caufe thereof; as we fee iu gob: and as Chrift's anfwer, concerning the blinde,man 7oh. 9: 3. Neither bath this man finned , nor his parents (that he was born blinde; ) but that the works of God should 'be made manifefl in him, giveth ground to think. 2, Though it cloth oftuer fall out that God Beth aftlit , Punish and ,1 A Ghaften
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