The souls exaltation A treatiseThe soules exaltation A treatise

so that though the holy Ghost doth bring the acquittance, yet the Father must give it: This is the first reason.

Reason 2 Secondly, we say that Justification is an act of God the Father, because the Father is the fountain in the Deity, as Divines use to say, in all the works that are done by the Deity, the Father is the first: for as the Persons are in their being, so they are in their working: The Father in order works before the Son and the holy Ghost; the Son works not before the Father hath wrought, and the holy Ghost works not before the Father and the Son have wrought. Hence it is that actions are given especially to the Father, though not excluding the Son, nor the holy Ghost; but yet howsoever they are all equal in their working, in regard of time, yet the Father is first in regard of order. A malefactor is now arraigned and condemned, and the pardon is to be begged, and none but the Kings son, the young Prince, can have a pardon, his abilities are only able to carry him through the work; the Prince begs it, the Favourite brings it, but the King only grants it: so it is here, the Lord Jesus Christ is the Son of the everlasting Father, and the Prince of peace, and he it is that begs the pardon of his Father, he sends it to us by the hands of the holy Ghost, but only the Father grants the pardon. When the soul hath long been humbled and self denying, and said, Lord forgive the trespasses of thy servant, and ⟨p. 138⟩yields, and lays down the weapons of defiance, and falls at the footstool of the Lord Jesus Christ, and rolls it self upon his merits; then the Spirit comes and saith, thy sins are pardoned, thy person is accepted, I bring thee this news from God the Father; God is now reconciled to thee, in and by the Lord Jesus Christ: now the Father is the King that grants this pardon, the Son is he that begs it, and the Spirit is the messenger that brings it. Now you see how it is an act of God the Father.

Reason 2 Secondly, wee say that Iustification is an act of God the Father, because the Father is the fountaine in the Deity, as Divines use to say, in all the workes that are done by the Deitie, the Father is the first: for as the Persons are in their being, so they are in their working: The Father in order workes before the Son and the holy Ghost; the Sonne workes not before the Father hath wrought, and the holy Ghost workes not before the Father and the Son have wrought. Hence it is that actions are given especially to the Father, though not excluding the Sonne, nor the holy Ghost; but yet howsoever they are all equall in their working, in regard of time, yet the Father is first in regard of order. A malefactor is now arraigned and condemned, and the pardon is to be begged, and none but the Kings sonne, the young Prince, can have a pardon, his abilities are onely able to carry him through the worke; the Prince begs it, the Favorite brings it, but the King onely grants it: so it is here, the Lord Iesus Christ is the Sonne of the everlasting Father, and the Prince of peace, and hee it is that begs the pardon of his Father, hee sends it to us by the hands of the holy Ghost, but only the Father grants the pardon. When the soule hath long beene humbled and selfe denying, and said, Lord forgive the trespasses of thy servant, and