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Gofpel
qùrn
fsion:
71
CHAP. XI.
Of
Pardoning Mercy
being
given
to
a few.
rvrther,
Bleffed
is he
that
bath
his
iniquities
forgiven,
be-
x
z.
Ar-
cauf
it
is
a
mercy
that
vsgiven but
to
a
little handful
of
thegumentk
world,
the
whole
world
lyes
in
wichednefs,
as
carrion
in
a
ditch,
or
as
Prifoners under
the
chains
of
guilt
of
fin, and
yet
that
God
fhould pull
forne
of
thefe
out, that
lie
as
in a
filthy
Dungeon
;
this
is
a
wonderful
mercy.
A Prince
that hath
many offenders,
ufually pardons
the moft,
and executes the
feweft
;
But
God
ufually executes
the moft,
and
pardons feweft.
But
how comes
this
to
pafs,
feeing
God is
a
God
of
more
mercy Objeíl.
than
any
Prince
;
how is
it
that
a Prince
fhould pardon
moft
and
execute
the
feweft, and
God
do
the
contrary
?
Anfw.
i
Becaufe
the
execution
of
many
that are
guilty,
Anfw.
would
be
a
troublefome
and
dangerous
thing unto
a
Prince
;
fie
cannot
do
it
when the moft
have offended
:
but
God
can
eafily execute thoufands
of
thoufands,
and all
with
one
word
fpeaking.
Further,
If
a
Prince
fhould execute
all
that
offend
,
he
2.
fhould have
a
want
of
his
Subje&s :
But
God
wants
not the
creatures,
he has
no need of
us
:
but a
Prince
may
want
his
Subjects,
and
therefore
if
there
be any way in
the world
to
preferve them,
and keep them
in
any
way
fubje&
to
him,
the
Prince will
not
deftroy
them..
Befides,
the Prince executes the feweft,
and
faves
the moft
;
3r
Becaufe the
execution
of
a
few
may
be
a
means
to
bring
others
unto
allegiance
:
But when
God
comes
to
execute
Malefactors,
the
execution
of
fome
cannot
be
a
mean
to work
good
on
others,
efpecially
at
the great day
;
'tis trtié,
in
this
world
God
is
long -
fuffering, and
executes
a
few,
that
it may
be a
means
to work
good on
others
;
But how
isGod
faid
to
be a
God of rich
and
glorious
mercy,
and
yet pardons
very
few, and executes
molt
;
for
all
the
world
have been
in
Treafon againft him
:
how
is
it
that
God
pardons
feweft and
deftroyes
moft?
I
hope
to
give
your
very