C n P. XVII. Ofthr Parable Mat: 18. 32.33. 416 in the appointed time declare : and it maybe the day, that fhall inanifefl all things, will vindicate them from thofe reproaches; in the meane time, fuch exprèflions as thefe, ly iii the middle, between all parties at variance, expofed to the ufeofany that is pleafed to take them up : the place infifted on-in the fequellofthis Prefaces, isthe Parableofour Saviour Mat. t8.32, 33. the-whole extent of theParable isfrom v. 2o. to the endof the Chapter : Hence M. G. thus inferrethSeel: 1 t. Evident it isfrom our Saviours rendition or application ofthe Parable (fo like, wife(hall myheavenly Fatherdoe alto untoyou, if6,c. ) (fpeakingunto hisDifëi- pies, v. i. and to Peter moreparticularly v. 21. ) that Perfons truly regenerate,and juflifiedbefore God(forlimb were they, towhom in fpeciall manner he adddreffeth the Parable, andthe applicationofit, and indeedthe whole carriage of the Parable fheweth, that it was calculated, andformed onlyfor fuch) may through high nif-. demeanours inßnning,as (for example) by unmereifulneffe,criselty,opprejlion,&c. turne themfelves out ofthejsethfyingGrace and Favour of God, quench the fpirit ofRegeneration, andcome to have their portions with. Hypocrites and 'Unbe- lievers. Anf. This is not theonly occafion whereupon we have todeale with this Parable: The Socinians wreftit allo with violence, to difprove thefatisfatl- onofChri/I, from the 'mention that is made in it, ofthefree forgivenefeoffsns, and the Lords injoyningothers to doe what hedid ; they doubtleffe being to forgivewithoutfatssfatíiongiven or made, as toany crimes committedagainfl: them. M..Goodwis withmuch leaprobability ,.ofdrawingnigh to the in- tendment ofour Saviour in this place, makes tileof it, or rather abufes it, to countenancehis DoctrineoftheApoliafy'of the Saints : To both I fay , Para- bles have their bounds and.limits, their linesand proportions, (cope and pe- culiar intendment, beyondwhich they provenothing at alb: towring thenofe ofa Parable or fimilitude, to force it to an univerfall compliance, will bring forth blond. There is nothing fo fottifh, or. foolifh, or contradidiousin, and toit fe] fe, as may not be countenanced, from teaching Parables tobe inftru- dive, and proving, in every parcell or exprefíion that attendsthem.: The in- tendment ofthe Parable here ufed, that wherein from the proportion, and an- fwerableneflèofthe comparats it argueth, is neither that God forgives with- out fatisfadion to his juftice, being the judgeofall theWorld, nor that Be- lieversmay fall away by f nnes ofunmercifirmJJe and oppreflon,and fo perifli e- verlaflingly, but that men upon the account ofmercy, and forgiveneffe recei- ved from God in Chrift, ought to extend mercy, and kindneffè to.their Bre- thren, God threatning, and revenging unmercifulneffe andopprefìion,in,and on whomfoever it is found; whether it beIgnorance in us, or what it he, the Lordknowes, and will judge: but weare not able to ftretch the lines of this Parable one ftep towards what M. Goodwin would lengthen them unto; that noperlons whatever, muff or ought toexpel, thegrace, and pardoning mer- cy ofGod to them , who have no bowellsof compaffion towards their bre- thren, is clearly taught; in making the reft of the circunifancesof the Para- ble argumentative, we cannot joyne with our Adverfary, he himfelfe in his fo doing, working meetly for his own ends. 4 an 2. Finding his Expofition of thisParable , liable and'obnoxious to anex- ception, in that it renders God changeable in his dealings with men , and a knot tobecall' on his Doctrine, which he is not able tountie he ventures boldly to cut it in pieces, by affirming that indeed God lovesno manatall,with any love,but the approbation of the ,qualificationsthat are inhim, and that he cannot befaidto change in reference ofthat, which is not in hiñs at all : phis he fets out, and ¡Nitrates variouflywith the dealings of men, and the laws that
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