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CHAPTER XIII.

Our judgment concerning these Paradoxes.

1. II. III. IV. V. VI. VII. It is true that in justification, a sentence is pronounced to the believer concerning the plenary expiation of all his sins without exception. VIII. Calvin quoted. IX. And Charuock. X. XI. XII. Objections answered. XIII. God does not see sin in the justified so as to condemn them: but he sees it with holy displeasure. XIV. And with the wrath not indeed of a rigid judge, but of an angry father. XV. Job, Heman, and others did not always set just bounds to their complaints: but yet they complained not without a cause. XVI. Sin does much hurt even to the justified. XVII. Chamier quoted. XVIII. Grief, penitence, confession, and prayers to obtain the pardon of new sins, are very necessary to the justified. XIX. Yea, and to obtain the pardon of old sins, though forgiven long ago. XX. An answer to opposite arguments. XXI. We should abstain from expressions which are liable to calumny.

1. Now

CHAP.

XIII.

I. It is true that in

OW I may be allowed to subjoin my own: which, all uncomely words being banished, shall flow in a gentle stream from the clear fountain of scripture. And first indeed, justificathat is confessed among all the orthodox, tence is prewhich we have now several times asserted, viz. That our Lord Jesus Christ satisfied Divine concerning justice to the full, for all the sins of all the elect: who, inasmuch as they themselves were all his sins

to exist, all their sins, as future, were with

nounced to the believer

the plenary expiation of

without ex

ception.

XIII.

CHAP out any difference, present to God and Christ: and so Christ dying, they were equally blotted out in one day: and in testimony of full payment, the discharge was, in a public and solemn manner, given him at his resurrection.

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II. Now, in justification, not some part, but the whole right purchased by Christ is adjudged to every believer: the whole of his righteousness is imputed, to deliver them from all condemnation, and to give them the sure hope of eternal salvation. And consequently, not only past sins are pardoned, on that condition, that if they mean to be saved, they commit none afterward, or if they happen to commit them, that they must be solicitous. concerning the new expiation of recent sins; but the pardon of all sins, perfectly expiated by the one sacrifice of Christ, is pronounced to them: none remaining, or to remain, which shall bring them into condemnation, and deprive them of eternal life.

III. For this is the promise of the covenant of grace. "I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." Heb. viii. 12. It is the privilege of believers, "That in Christ they have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches. of his grace," Eph. i. 7. not of some only, but of all without exception." For Christ by his own blood hath obtained eternal redemption," Heb. ix. 12. That is its merit

XIII.

and efficacy endureth for ever, and extends CHAP. as much to future sins, as to them that are past.

IV. If it were otherwise, none could receive solid comfort from justification. For what doth it profit me to know that only the sins which I have hitherto committed are pardoned, while every moment I sin, and bring new debt upon myself? Must not the soul be equally solicitous, who is conscious to itself, that one sin, even the least, while not pardoned, is sufficient to exclude it from heaven?

V. Now, upon what foundation is the believer assured of the remission of past sins?. upon no other, surely, but that they were laid upon Christ, borne by him, and taken away: which is not true as to past sins only, but also as to future. For, as I just now hinted,. when Christ satisfied for them, they were all equally future in respect of us who now live. What reason then forbids, yea, what does not enjoin, the believer to be persuaded, that sins to come shall no more be imputed to him unto condemnation, than the past, since Christ by the same blood and death expiated the former, no less than the latter?

VI. Paul is very express with regard to this matter, in the viiith. of Rom. "There is no condemnation, (says he, no, not any) to them who are in Christ Jesus." No sin at all, which shall bring them into condemnation., Believera may be sacredly secure, even as to

IV.

V.

VI.

XIII.

CHAP. the future: «For he who spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" When he says all things, surely he does not except the pardon of sins which we shall daily commit. For thus he goes on, "Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God who justifieth," who absolves from every sin: "Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ who died," and by dying satisfied fully for all sins, having torn the hand-writing on the cross: "yea, rather who is risen again," having received from the Father the discharge of the satisfaction which he made: which is of service not only to him, that he may not again be arrested, but also to the debtors,-for whom, he as a Surety satisfied: "Who is even at the right hand of God;" whither ́he could not have come, unless he had first "purged our sins by himself," Heb. i. 3. and after that "by one offering he had perfected for ever them that are sanctified," Heb. x. 12-14. "Who also maketh intercession for us," demanding, according to covenant, that the right he purchased for us be also thoroughly applied. "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" By bringing us into such a sin, whereby we may fall from his love. For no other way can be imagined, whereby either man, or angel, or even any other creature, can separate us from the love of Christ, but by the instrumentality of sin.

XIII

VII.

VII. Since these things are so, it should CHAP. • not be reckoned a paradox, but is most evidently a true assertion, that in justification, that sentence is pronounced to the believer, whereby he is assured that satisfaction was made for all his sins past, present, and to come, without exception: that none remains, whether already committed, or to be committed afterwards, which shall ever bring him into condemnation. I cannot sufficiently admire that there should be found a reformed French Divine, who imputes this opinion,

as remote from the sentiments of our churches, to a few Divines perhaps in Holland, who have been suddenly seized with an unreasonable desire after singular opinions.

VIII. From which odium even Calvin alone

VIII.

Calvin

ought to acquit them, whose memorable words quoted, on this subject are found, Inst. lib. iii. chap. xi. sect. 11. "Because it is more than sufficient,

ly known by experience, that the remainders of sin continue always in the just, they must needs be far otherwise justified than reformed to newness of life. For this last, God so begins in his elect, and advances gradually and sometimes slowly in it through the whole course of life, that they may always be afraid, lest they fall into condemnation, at his tribunal. But he justifies them, not in part, but that they may appear boldly in heaven, as clothed with Christ's purity. For no portion of righteousness could pacify our consciences, till they be satisfied that we please

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