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BERM.
XVII.]
A
RATIONAL DEFENCE
OF
THE
COSPEL.
X91
from
the
guilt and
punishment
of
sin,
and
to
relieve
à.
distressed conscience
under
the
sense
of
divine
anger
:
It
gives the most effectual
security
to
a believer against the
terrors
of
hell
and
eternal
death;
for
it
not
only de-
clares,
that
there
is
forgiveness with Gods
but
it
shews
us the
foundation upon
which this forgiveness stands,
namely,
the satisfaction made to the offended
justice of
God
by
the death
and sacrifice
of Jesus
Christ,
his Som
Suppose
it
were possible
for
a
philosopher, or
wise
man;
to
prove
that God
would forgive the
sins
of the
peni-
tent,
yet
there
is
nothing
hut
the
gospel
that
can set the
conscience
at
such
joyful
ease
from
the
terror of
guilt,
and release
the
soul froth
the chains wherewith
it
wás
held
:
" For
now, says
the believer,
I
not
only
hear
it
proved
by
divine testimony,
that there
is
pardon of
sin to
be
obtained
from
God,
but
I
see how
God
may
do
it
with
honour:
I
behold
the
atonement
that
is
made
by
Christ
Jesus,
his
own Son.
The
atonement
is
eqúal
to
the
offence
:
He
can
justify
me,
though
I
ám a
sinner,
upon the
account of
this
perfect righteousness; and he
can
do
it
with glory to
all his
terrible perfections
:
there
fore
I
may
venture
my
assent
to this
doctrine,
and
I
iha
r
rest
my
soul
upon
it."
2.
The
gospel
is
a
powerful means else
to
raise
unde-
serving sinners
to
a
hope
of
heaven
and eternal
life.
It
shews us
what heaven
is,
by:the
discoveries
of
one
that
has been
there,
even the
Son
of God
himself,
Life
and
immortality are
brought
to
light
by
this gospel, which
lay
hid
under
much
darkness
before:;
i.
10.
It
teaches
us also, how
the
happiness.
of
heaven
is
pro=
cured for
us,
even by
the obedience
and
blood.
of
the
Son
of
God
;
and therefore,
some think, heaven
is
called
the purchased
possession
in Epb.
l;
14.
It
assurés
'us,
that
this blessed
state
of
the enjoyinent.ef.God
in
un-
changeable
peace,
and
in
the company
of
blessed
spirits,
waits for every
believer, when
he
is.
dislodged from this
flesh,
and when the
habitation
of
the
body
is
no
longer
fit
to
retain
the
.spirit
:
And
it
reveals
also the final
heaven
of
the
saints, when the body
shall
be
raisèd into
immortality..
"
Without_ this gospel, says
the
'soul;
I
could have no
just
ground`
to
tiope
fir
heaven
ç
for all
my best
righteousnesses
are
imperfect
my
fairest acts
of
holiness
have many defects in
them;
but I behold
U