Downame - BV209_D69_G6_1640_v1

The rearm of the fifthpetition expounded. Papifis alto expound that fpeech of our Saviour Luke 7. 47. Many finnes are forgiven her; for the loved much. Whereas in truth the love either of God or of our neighbour for Gods caufe is an effeCt, and foa figne, of Gods love towards us in forgiving our finnes. We love God beau fe he loved us firfi, t. John4. 19. And fo doth our Saviour in that place argue, not from the caufe to the effea, but from the effea to the caufe: as alto appeareth by the oppofition in the latter part of that verfe, but to whom let is for,iven,he lovethlef; and by the parable of the two debtours, ver. 4 c. where- of he loved more to which more was forgiven. So that our love is not the caufe of forgiveneffe, but the forgiveneffe of our finnes is the caufe of our love; and therefore our love an effe& , fruit and fagne ofthe forgiveneffe ofour finnes. Again, our j aflification and remiffion of finnes is free, proceed- ing from the mere love of God without any defers of ours, Rom.3 .24. howbeit it is deferved through the merits of Chrift. And furely if our forgiving of offenfes were the caufe why our finnes be forgi- ven, then may we thank our felves for our ju{lifi- cation: neither Mould we need to pray that God would forgive us for Chrifls merits, but for our own deferts. And la{lly, the Apoflle Paul exhort - eth us to forgive our brethren, as to a fruit and cffet of Chrilts forgiving us, Ephef.4. 32. Col. 3. 13. Forgiving one another, even 45 Chrift bathfreely forgiven you. In thefe words therefore is not fet down the caufe of the forgiveneffe of our finnes,but an argument from the leffe to the greater to con- firm, 377