$d JnExpofition of rho tíiay be fome remedy and relief provided for them, that they may not actually fall tinder it; there mayyet forneway ofefeape remain for them, and fo their ruine not be founavoidable as is pretended. It hath been Chewed that it was a righteous thing that the tranfgreffors ofthe Law fhouldperifh, and yet a way of efcape is provided for them ; God iimerciful, and things maybe found at the laft day otherwife thannow they arereported : at lead all that Faith, Diligence, Obedience and Holinefs wh;sh is fpokenof, is not required to free men from being neglet?ers of the GoJfel; fo that they who come thort of themmay neverthelefsefiape. I anfwer, that we are-not now difcourfrng of the Natureof that Faith and Obedience which is required to intend men in Gofelfalvation. But certain it is, that it will be found to be that which the Word requires, andno other; eventhatfaith which purifieth the heart, that faith which reformeth the life, that faith whichisfruitful ingoodworks, that faith which bringeth forth univerfal Holinefs, withoutwhich no man (hallfeeGod. A faith confiding with the love and fervice offin, with neglect ofGofpel duties, with conformity to the Word; with a fenfual profaneor wicked life,will ftand menin no Read in this matter. Butthis is not the fubjed ofour prefent difcourfe. It may fuffice ingeneral that the FaithandObedience which the Gofpel requireth are indifpenfably neceffary to free men from being Gofpel defpifers; what they are is all our concernment to enquire and learn : for where they are wanting there is no relief nor remedy, what ever wind and afhes of vain hopes men may feed upon and deceive themfelves withal!. It is true, there was a remedy provided for the tranfgreffion ofthe Law, and this re- tnedy was, I. Rea¡mable, in that there was no mixture of mercy or grace in that dif- penfation. And GodCaw meet toglorifie thole properties ofhis Nature, as well as thofe which before (hone forth in the Creationof all things, and givingof the Law. Pardoning mercy was not finned againfl in the breachofthe Law, and therefore that might interpofe for a relief, which was done accordingly. And yet, 2.Neither would this havebeen either reafonable or righteous, if that only and lall way of fatisfying the Righteoufnefs and the Law by the fufferings andSacrifice ofthe SonofGod had not intervened. Without this, Mercy and Grace mutt have eternally retied in the bo- fomeof God, without the lead exercife ofthem ; aswe fee they are in refped unto the Angels that finned, whofe Nature theSon of God affumed not, thereby to relieve them. And, 3. This relief wasdeclared immediately upon the entrance offin, andthe promifes ofit renewed continually until it was wrought and accomplifhed. And hereby it became thefit/jell ofthe whole Book ofGod, and theprincipal matterof allentercourfe between God andfinners. But all thefe things fully difcover, that there neither is, nor canany relief be provided for them that fin againfi the Goffel. For, (r.)Frorri what fpring, what fountain fhould itproceed ? Mercy and Grace areprin. eipally finn`ÿd againfl in it, and their wholedefign of it therein defeated. Theutmoft ofmercy and grace is already finned againft, and what remainethnow for the relief of a(inner? Is there any other Propertie of the Divine Nature whole confideration will adminifter untomen any ground of hope? Is there any thing in the Name of God in that Revelation that hehath made of himfelfby his Works, or tohis Word, to give them encouragement ? Doubtlefs nothing at all.. But yet fuppofe that God had not laid out all the riches and treafuresof his Wifdom Grace Love andGoodnefs in GoffelJalvation by3efus Chriff, which yet he af6rmeth that he hath ;' fuppofe that in Infinite Mercy there were yeta referve for pardon; by what wayand means (a.) Should it be brought forth and made effel.hsal ? We have feen that God neither would nor could ever have exercifed pardoningmercy towards (inners, had not way beenmade for it by the Blond ofbis Son : what then? Shall ChriJt die again that thedefpifers of theGofpel may be faved ? Why befides that the Scripture affirms pofitively, that hencçrtb hedieth rio more, and that there is nomoreJaerifice for fin, this is the moil un- reafonable thing thatcan be imagined. Shallhedie again for them by whom his death pathbeen defpifed ? Is the Blond of Chrift fuch a common thing, as tobe fo call away upon the lulls ofmen ? Befides, when fhould he make anend Of dying ? They who have onceneglected the Gofpelmaydo fo upon a fecond trial, nayundoubtedly would dolo, and thence (herald Chrill often die, often be offered, and all 1h11 in vain. Neither bath God any Other Son to fendto die for finners ; he lent bis only begotten Son once for all, and he that believeth riot on himmull perith for ever. Invain then will all mens expectations be from ffich a mercy as there is nothing to open adoor unto, nor to make .way for itsexerciCe. Nay thismercy is a meerfigment of fccure frnner5, there iS no fuck thing in God. All the mercy and grace thatGod hath for his creatures engaged
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