C H A P. 36. Repentance no Condition of Pardon. 429 minion , to make ufe of Chrift , in his Prieftly office , & to carry the foul away to his Propitiation 8.z I nterceflìon. 5. The dayly experience of the Saints evidence this, whenupon convi- ëlionof fin , they betake themfelves to the free Mercy of God , in Chrift , to the Blond of fprinkling , crying out for Pardon íòr the Lord's fake , and feeking to be washen, in his blood. It is not their Repentance , or Sorrow, that they flee to, as the ground of their hope of Pardon ; but the merites of Chrift, held forth in the new Covenant , is that fountaine , wherein they muff wash & be cleane. See Pfal. 25: 11. 6. This was fufficiently held forth under the Law, when for their Er- rours , Failings & dayly Tranfgreflions , the people were to bring their Sa- crifices to the Priest , which were to be offered up , as types of Chrift & they were to lay their hands upon the head of the Sacrifice, in figne of their refting upon the Sacrifice typified , & of rolling their fins upon that only Sa- crific: , & of expeEfing Acceptance & Pardon , through it alone. See Le- vit.4:zo,z6,3I,35.& 5: to, 13,I6,18. &6 :7,19,22. 7. If Repentance be the Condition , then this mutt either be faid of that part of Repentance , which preceedeth the aEling of faith , or of that which followeth : This laß cannot be faid ; fer then it would follow , that upon the a Ling of faith , that preceedeth , there were no Remifiion ; & fo faith es laying hold on Chrift & his Merit, should be utterly excluded from having any fntereft in the pardon of fins. Nor can the farß be faid , for then there should be Remifiìon , before & without all application made of Chrift by Faith : Yea & the very imperfect beginnings of Repentance should be jud- ged fuffrcientfor Remitïìon : which cannot be faid. If it be faid, that thisis meaned ofcompleat Repentance. I Anf. Cotnpleet Repentance cannot be without Faith : & it is againft what is faid , to make Repentance , confide- red alone & by itfelf, or as abilra&ed from Faith , the only Condition; feing this would be a manifefl exclufion of Faith altogether. If it be faid , that Repentance & Faith may be confidered together , & as joyned toge- ther called the Condition of Pardon. í Anf Seing it is manifefl , that both do not, neither can ad one & the fame way on Chrift; they cannot be con- fid:ered as equally sharing in the place & intereft of a condition : And there - fore, Ijudge itfaifeftto fay , That faith, afting in & by Repentance, or fo difcovering itfelf to be true & lively, is the foie Condition of Pardon. S. As at firfl , fo alwayes that holdeth true , which Peter faith .116. 10: 43. To him (i. e. to Jefuk) give all the Prophets witnef.-, that through his na- me whofoever beleeveth in him , shall receive RemafJzon of fins. As the, Bung Ifra-elit was alwayes , in order to his cure , to look to the brazen ferpent : fo is the Beleever, that would be cured of the guilt of new tranfgreflìons, to have his recourfe by Fairh unto the Mediator , crucified & lifted up t oh. 3: 14, I. Obj, I. It is faid, that Repentance is neceffary both as commanded, and asa meane appointed for attaining Remifiìon of fins : And therefore muff be the Condition of Remiffion. Anf. The confequence is not good; for this -fame maybe faid ofPrayer, and other Duties; which yet cannot be called G g g Faroe
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