To oppose against any part of Gods truth,1 is a monstrous and heinous sin: for an especial part of Gods honour consisteth in his truth, which is as dear and precious to him, as any thing can be: to gain-say it, is to deny him to be God:2 for he is styled, The Lord God of truth. But to gain-say the Gospel, that part of Gods truth wherein Jesus who was sent to save his people from their sins, 3wherein the riches of Gods mercy, & wherein the* peculiar love of God to man is revealed, and that for mans good, even for his eternal salvation, is more then monstrous. For this is not only a denying of Gods truth, but of his mercy also: yea (if we well consider the extent of the Gospel) of the wisdom, power, justice, and all other properties of God. It addeth unto other sins (to make up the heap of them) ingratitude. It taketh away the means of pardon and life: for in the Gospel, only in the Gospel is pardon offered, and life to be found; without it, is nothing but death and damnation. When the Gospel is not received, what hope can there be of pardon? This is it that bringeth God (who by a solemn oath hath protested,5 that he⟨p. 600⟩ desireth not the death of the wicked, but that the wicked should turn from his way and live) to complain and say What could I have done any more, 6that I have not done? If not to receive the Gospel be a deadly and damnable sin, what is to reject it. To reject a thing is more then not to receive it: it is to put it away, as the Jews, who in that respect are said to judge themselves unworthy of everlasting life. 7It is as if traitors and rebels being risen up against their Sovereign, and he offering pardon unto them, if they would lay down their weapons, and turn to be loyal subjects; they should reject his gracious offer, and say they will none of his favour, they care not for pardon: they had rather be hanged, drawn, and quartered, then be beholding to him for favour and pardon. Doth not this rejecting of favour much aggravate the crime? Yea, is not this a more heinous crime then the treason and rebellion it self?
To oppose against any part of Gods truth,1 is a monstrous and hainous sinne: for an especiall part of Gods honor consisteth in his truth, which is as deare and precious to him, as any thing can be: to gain-say it, is to deny him to be God:2 for he is stiled, The Lord God of truth. But to gain-say the Gospell, that part of Gods truth wherein Iesus who was sent to saue his people from their sins, 3wherein the riches of Gods mercy, & wherein the* peculiar loue of God to man is reuealed, and that for mans good, euen for his eternall saluation, is more then monstrous. For this is not onely a denying of Gods truth, but of his mercy also: yea (if we well consider the extent of the Gospell) of the wisdome, power, iustice, and all other properties of God. It addeth vnto other sins (to make vp the heape of them) ingratitude. It taketh away the meanes of pardon and life: for in the Gospell, onely in the Gospell is pardon offered, and life to bee found; without it, is nothing but death and damnation. When the Gospell is not receiued, what hope can there be of pardon? This is it that bringeth God (who by a solemne oath hath protested,5 that he⟨p. 600⟩ desireth not the death of the wicked, but that the wicked should turne from his way and liue) to complaine and say What could I haue done any more, 6that I haue not done? If not to receiue the Gospell be a deadly and damnable sinne, what is to reiect it. To reiect a thing is more then not to receiue it: it is to put it away, as the Iewes, who in that respect are said to iudge themselues vnworthy of euerlasting life. 7It is as if traytors and rebels being risen vp against their Soueraigne, and hee offering pardon vnto them, if they would lay downe their weapons, and turne to bee loyall subiects; they should reiect his gratious offer, and say they wil none of his fauour, they care not for pardon: they had rather be hanged, drawne, and quartered, then be beholding to him for fauour and pardon. Doth not this reiecting of fauour much aggrauate the crime? Yea, is not this a more hainous crime then the treason and rebellion it selfe?
