ß.3o Repentance no Condition of Pardon.. CH A P. 3 . proper Conditions of Pardon. That prayer is a commanded duty , none cannot be called the Condition ; for then every one that prayed) deny ; That a praying (inner may be faid to be Ming the meanes to attai- ( ne unto Pardon , and to be in the way of obtaining of it , will all() be gran -, ted : and fo in that refped, prayer may be accounted a meane : and yet it sh Auld ha- ve pardon , though he aft not faith : And ifit be Paid, that it mutt be prayer in faith jam. 5: 15. I Anf. True , but then the Condition is not Prayer, but Faith exerting itfelf, and aEting in& through Player : And the fame we fay of Repentance , and fo keep it in its due place and preßë it in the Gofpel way & methode. Obj. 2. It is faid. That there is a kind of congruity & futabinefs , in this order , by fubjoining the prof»ife of pardon to it ; for it is more futable that a penitent firmer should have Pardon , than an impenitent. An f. So this fa- me may be Paid of Prayer; for it is alfomore futable , that a praying fanner, be pardoned , than a (inner that never once asketh pardon : And this tendeth more alto to the exalting of free grace. But the truth is , in pardon there is not only a declaration & exalting of Grace & Mercy ; but all() of divine lu- ftice R.om. 3: 25, 26. and unto this, Faith is fingularly fitted , becaufe it lay - yeth hold on the Propitiation , and on bloud , for the declaration of God's Righteoufnefs for Remiffion of fins ; anti hereby is, the Lord declared to be juft , when he is the Juflifier & Pardoner of the beleever. So that neither prayer, nor Repentance , nor Self fearching &c. can be properly called the Condition, but Faith aftingin & by thefe. Obj. 3. It is Paid , that Repentance qualifieth the fanner , in reference to the promife of pardon , or putteth him within the reach of the promife; fo that he may take hold of the promife of pardon: And it difpofeth .him to accept the offered Salvation freely , and to raft upon Chrilt alone , for that end. An'. (I) What difpofeth to accept of Salvation &c. cannot for that caute be called the Condition,of Pardon, unlefs we fpeak improperly; as felt poverty in a beggar, though it difpofeth him to receive an offered almes thankfully Yet it is not the, proper Condition : No more is (elf canviétion, in our cafe , a Condition cf Pardon. (z.) If it qualifieth for the receiving of the offered Salvation ; then it qualifieth immediatly for Faith , & but me- diatly & rematly for Pardon. (3) The promife of Pardon is not made to the penitent properly, & as fuch; but to the Penitent beleever; that is, to faith, a&ing & exerting itfelfin & by Repentance. Obj. 4. Efai. I: 15, 16. put away the evil of your doing , ceafe to do evil, &c. this is Repentance : & then verf. IS. full pardon is promifed, though your fins be ar fcarlet , they shall be ar white, as [now &c. An f. Yet withal' he bids them wash ds' make cleane; which could only be , by the blood of the Mefíiah, for that only cleanfeth. 1. ¡oh. 1:7. and this they had negleEted', in going about their Sacrifices, which therefore were abominable in the eyes of the Lord verf. I I, 12, 13. becaufe not accompanied. with Faith , that purifieth the heart 44a. is: ,. 06j. 5. 2.Chron. 7: 14. the Lord promifeth to forgive fin, if his people would turne from their wicked wayes. ifnf. But withal' it is required the - re,. 4
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