Chap. 34. 44 Expofition upon the Book of J o s. \rerf.i a the juflification of hisperfon; yet God doth render to him, ac- cording to that prefent work of faith in clofing with the promife and the work ofChrilis righteoufneffe therein tendered tp him, and applyed by him for his juflification. Further, that other Scripture feems to lye in the wayof this obfervat ion (Pfaff. i o3. i o.) Hehathnot dealt with us after our fiis,orrewarded its according to our iniquities. How then doth God render everyman his work ? Ianfwer as before ; Aasof mercy do not crófs aas of juflice. Wheat the Lord doth hot deal with any nun according to his fins, it is becaufe he hash freely pardoned his fins ; and he doth not reward a man according to his iniquity, becaufe his iniquities are done away ; thus he deals with all his own people, who are re- ceived to favour through Jefus Chri(1 ; but nò wicked man, no impenitent perfoh in the world, (hail have caute to fay, that God bath not dealt with him according to his fin,or bath not rewarded him according tohis iniquity. There may be fome prefent flops ofJuflice, through the patience of God to wicked men ; their works are not alwayes prefently rendered into their bofomes, but they (hall. God will render to everyman according to his work, one way or oher,one timeor other ;The full rendering,to all men _ according to their works will be at the great day;in this world'the godly doe not fomtimes receive according to their good works nor doe the wicked according to their eyill works Good men are often rewardedwith flume and reproach, with want and po- verty, with banifhment and imprifonmenr,. with tortures and withdeath in thisprefent world ; but the Lord will have a time to render to them according to their workes, though at no time fortheir works ; fo look upon wicked men, and their workes, they goe often unpuni(hed at the prefent, yea manyof them profper greatly (as I havehad occafion to chew, more thenonce in opening this Book) they have their good things, many good things in this life, but the time will come when God will render to the wicked theirwork, and they thall be forced to fay, that he bath cauld them to,find according to their wayes. Take two or three inferences from this general( truth. If God will render the work of a man to him ; Then Firfl, Godly men have great encouragement to doe good, yea to abound in doing good workes,. That s the Apoftles argu- ment 565
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