First, because the pardon of the Gospel, which we preach, makes no exception of any 1sin; Christ came to save sinners, to take away the sins of the world, this is spoken indefinitely. Secondly, not of any person, 2preach the Gospel to every creature, there is not any exception of any rebel or rebellion. Thirdly, besides the price that was paid answers for the greatest sins as well as the least; 3he is ready to forgive a thousand pound upon satisfaction, as well as ten groats; and therefore if thou hast Christ for thy ransom, it is no matter what thy sins have been, great or small, for the same price may as well stand for the one as for the other. Again fourthly, 4the God which we have to deal with is a mighty God, even in this, even in pardoning, Michah 7. 18. Who is like unto our God that pardoneth iniquity. and passeth by the transgression of his heritage? he will subdue them and cast them all into the depth of the Sea, that is, herein the infiniteness of God appears in forgiving transgressions, he showeth his might in it, and being merciful as God, and not as ⟨p. 120⟩man, and therefore he useth that metaphor of casting their sins into the depth of the Sea, that as the Sea drowneth mountains as well as mole hills, if they be cast into it; so his Attributes are infinite and so are his mercies: and therefore he takes delight to forgive great sins, because we know him to be God and not man thereby, because he forgives moe than a man is able or willing to forgive. But because examples are more prevalent in this case, I will give you a few. Adam was the cause of murdering the whole world, he made all men not only guilty of the first death, but also of the second; besides other aggravations of his sin, believing the Devil rather than God, &c. yet we see that God found out a remedy and received him into mercy, for he himself preached the Gospel to him, and therefore not without profit. So likewise Manasseh sins exceeded, so as indeed we know not how a man should commit more almost: yet when he humbled himself greatly, (for he had great sins) God received him to mercy, and restored him to his Kingdom; so as when we read of his sins, how he filled Jerusalem with blood, &c. one of us would have been ready to have said, What, Lord, wilt thou forgive this man and set him in his Kingdom, as if he had done nothing against thee?
First, because the pardon of the Gospell, which we preach, makes no exception of any 1sinne; Christ came to saue sinners, to take away the sinnes of the world, this is spoken indefinitely. Secondly, not of any person, 2preach the Gospell to euery creature, there is not any exception of any rebell or rebellion. Thirdly, besides the price that was paid answers for the greatest sinnes as well as the least; 3he is ready to forgiue a thousand pound vpon satisfaction, as well as ten groats; and therefore if thou hast Christ for thy ransome, it is no matter what thy sinnes haue beene, great or small, for the same price may as well stand for the one as for the other. Againe fourthly, 4the God which wee haue to deale with is a mighty God, euen in this, euen in pardoning, Michah 7. 18. Who is like vnto our God that pardoneth iniquity. and passeth by the transgression of his heritage? hee will subdue them and cast them all into the depth of the Sea, that is, herein the infinitenesse of God appeares in forgiuing transgressions, he sheweth his might in it, and being mercifull as God, and not as ⟨p. 120⟩man, and therefore hee vseth that metaphor of casting their sinnes into the depth of the Sea, that as the Sea drowneth mountaines as well as mole hils, if they be cast into it; so his Attributes are infinite and so are his mercies: and therefore hee takes delight to forgiue great sins, because we know him to be God and not man thereby, because hee forgiues moe than a man is able or willing to forgiue. But because examples are more preualent in this case, I will giue you a few. Adam was the cause of murthering the whole world, he made all men not onely guilty of the first death, but also of the second; besides other aggrauations of his sinne, beleeuing the Deuill rather than God, &c. yet we see that God found out a remedy and receiued him into mercy, for he himselfe preached the Gospell to him, and therefore not without profit. So likewise Manasses sinnes exceeded, so as indeed wee know not how a man should commit more almost: yet when he humbled himselfe greatly, (for he had great sinnes) God receiued him to mercy, and restored him to his Kingdome; so as when we read of his sinnes, how he filled Ierusalem with bloud, &c. one of vs would haue beene ready to haue said, What, Lord, wilt thou forgiue this man and set him in his Kingdome, as if he had done nothing against thee?
- 1Reason 1.
- 2Reason 2.
- 3Reason 3.
- 4Reason 4.
