Ver.4. Fa f Prefilmptions of Forgivenej, fort into themfelvcs. As their apprehenfions arc of their own doinggood or evil, according to their ruling li;ht whatever it be, fò as toplace and ref' are they fecretly toiled up and down. Every one in his feveral way pleafeth himself with what he doth to answer unto his own convictions, and is difquieted ar to his 'fate and condition, according as he teems to himfelf, to come fhort thereof. Tomake a full life of contentation upon pardon, they knownot how to do it. One duty yields them more true repose, than many thoughts of forgivenefs, But faith finds fweetnefsand Refi in it ; being thereby apprehend- ed, it is the only harbour of the foul. It leads a man to God as Good, to Chrift as Refl. Fading evanid jyer, do oft-times attend the one.; butfeliddelight, with conftant Obedience, are the fruits only of the other. Sixthly, Thofe who have the former only, take up their perfwafion on falfe grounds, though the thing it fell be true and they cannot but ufe it unto falfi ends and purpofes, be- fides its natural and genuine tendency. For their grounds they will bedifcovered when I come to treat of the true nature of Gofpel forgivenefs. For the End, it is ufed generally only to fill up what is wanting. Self-righteoufnefs is their bottom ; and when that is too thort, or narrow to cover them, they piece it out byforgivenef . Whereconfcience accules, this nmuft fupply the defer. Faith layes it on its proper foundation ; of which afterwards all); and it ufeth it to its proper End ; namely to be the file and only ground of our Acceptation with God. That is the proper ufe of forgivenefs, that all may be of Grace for when the foundation is pardon, the whole fuperftruEture muff needs be Grace. Fromwhat hath been fpoken it is evi- dent, that notwithftanding the pretences to the contrary, in- finuated in the Obje&ion now removed, it is a great thing to have Gofpet forgivenefs discovered unto a foul in a faving- ananncr. 74, 9'3
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