20 Gofpel Xemifsion. mit afterward; this is a mighty myfterie; for Godwhen he takes a poor foul and forgives ban his fin, he does not Only forgive him his prefent and pair fins, but layes in a pardon for all the fins that ever Thal, be committed by him afterwards; this is a way ofpardoning fin proper to Gcd alone ; there is no crea- ture pardons the offence one of another, fo as God pardons here; lh:refore the Prophet cryes out, Micah7.18. Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, andpafeth.by the tranf- grefons of the remnant ofhis heritage ? Who is a God like to thee ; who in all the world can pardon fin as God cloth ? No Fa- ther. pardons the fin of a Child, no Prince the fin ofa Subje& as God Both : Now, becaufe this is a point of admirable com- fort to all the Saints of God, 'Lis fit to be opened andmade out, that when God pardons fin at first, he gives in a pardon for all they Ihall commit afterwards ; I manifeft it thus, in Rom. 8. r.- the Apoftle fays, There is now no condemnation to them that are in Chrift ,refis : fromwhence I argue,. Except God did pardon whatfoever fins fhould be committed when he juftifies a (inner, then at any time when a juftified perfon fins, umill he renew an ad of faith for pardon, there muff be condemnation to him ; for whofoevcr is in fuch an eftate as hath any fin unpardoned, for that inftant he is in the Rateof condemnation : But there is no inftant of time, when it can be laid of any juftified perfon, that-he is in the fiate of condemnation ; I fay no inftant of time, for though a juftified perfon may fall into fin after he is juftified, yet at that inftant when he falls into that fin, there is by Godapplyed a pardon, that was laid in before, although an act of faith be not renewed in regard of that particular fin ; that is the point I would make good, though it be true, there is re- quired as our duty anad offaith to lay hold onour pardon,yea, all'o it is required in refpect of comfort too ; for we cannot have comfort of the pardon of a new fin committed, except there be a renewal of an ad of faith : But yet this renewal of an at of faith , though it be neceffary, becaufe commanded , and for our comfort, yet no abfolute neceffity to freeus from condemnation ; but being once juftified by Chrift, there is a pardon laid up ; fo that upon any a& of fin newly committede this pardon is alaplyed by God hirntfelf, though we be not abl by
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