418 STRENGTH AND WEAKNESS OF II OMAN REASOR, public calamities ? Nay, have there not been some ofthe most virtuous and holy creatures upon earth now and then given up by the providenceof God, not only to common calamities, but to peculiar miseries and smarting sorrows, as just tokens of divine resentment for some past sins ? And their own consciences have acknowledged the justice of it. God will magnify his law and make it honourable, and will make even penitent sinners know what an evil and bitter thing it is to offend his majesty, and break his laws. And as it has pleased the righteous Governorof the universe to make even penitent offenders sometimes instances of bis just displeasure against sin in this wbrld, that other inhabi- tants of the earth may see, and fear, and Obey, so how do we know, how far the several orders of angels or inhabitants of other worlds, shall be witnessesofthe punishment of guilty mor- tals in the invisible or future state, andbe thereby deterred from sin ? The repentance of a criminal is no recompence to God, considered as the universal Governor of his intellectual creatures : His supreme authority must be maintained, and his honour be vindicated through his universal empire : And how can heathens assure themselves by the mere light of reason, that the wisdom of his government doth not find it necessary to make all the cri- minals of the human race become some way or other examples of his just resentment ? It is only divine revelation that informs us with any certainty, that man shall findforgiveness with God, and that pardon shall follow repentance. Loc. Do you not allow then, my friend, that the light of nature can go so far as to say, it is at least probable, that God will forgive a repenting sinner, though reason may not make it certain ? PITH. I confess some things which Sophronius delivered concerning the hope of pardon for repenting sinners, in confir- mation at his scheme of natural religion, at the beginning of this conference, have great weight with me. Though I am sure repentance cannot claim pardon on the sinner's part at the hand of God, yet I know not how strong a claim the wisdom and mercy of God may bring against the full execution of justice in such a case. God may forgive a sinner inpart, and release him, in some degree from thecomplete demerit and punishment of his sin, though he does not forgive him entirely. The learned Dr. Clarke, though he makes but little of original sin, yet in vol. II. serm, ix. page 198. he says, We are the posterity of a sinful pa- rent, andourselves also are actual sinners; and at best we are but very imperfect and undeserving penitents, and our utmost en- deavours of repentance can at most but afford ground of hope for the abatement of punishment, and not any expectation of reward. But let us suppose and allow, that it is probable God will at
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