Secondly, To offer violence to all his attributes. 1. To his Justice. For the righteousness of Gods judgment lies, in rendering to all according to their works. Rom. 2. 5, 6. Now, should men sow to the flesh, and yet of the spirit reap everlasting life, Gal. 6. 7, 8. where were the glory of divine Justice, since it should be given to the wicked, according to the work of the righteous? 2. To his holiness. If God ⟨p. 74⟩should not only save sinners, but save them in their sins, his most pure and strict holiness would be exceedingly defaced. The unsanctified is, in the eyes of Gods holiness, worse than a swine, or viper. Mat. 23. 33. 2 Pet. 2. 22. Now what cleanly nature could endure, to have the filthy swine bed and board with him in his parlour, or bed chamber? It would offer extremest violence to the infinite purity of the divine nature, to have such to dwell with him. They cannot stand in his judgment, they cannot abide in his presence. Psal. 1. 5. Psal. 5. 4, 5. If holy David would not endure such in his house, no nor in his sight, Psal. 101. 3, 7. shall we think God will? Should he take men as they be, from the trow to the table, from the harlots lips, from the sty and draught, to the glory of Heaven, the world would think God were at no such distance from sin, nor had such dislike of it, as we are told he hath: they would conclude, God were altogether such a one as themselves (as they wickedly did, but from the very forbearance of God. Psal. 50. 21.) 3. To his veracity. For God hath declared from Heaven, That if any shall say, they shall have peace, though he should go on in the imagination of his heart: his wrath shall smoke against that man. Deut. 29. 19, 20. That they (only,) that confess, and forsake their sins, shall find mercy. Prov. 28. 13. That they that shall enter into his •ill, must be of clean hands, and a pure heart. Psal. 24. 3, 4. Where were Gods truth, if notwithstanding all this, he •hould bring men to salvation without Conversion? ⟨p. 75⟩O desperate sinner, that darest to hope, that Christ will put the lie upon his Father, and nullify his word to save thee! 4. To his wisdom. For this were to throw away the choicest mercies, on them that would not value them, nor were any way suited to them. First, they would not value them. The unsanctified sinner puts but little price upon Gods great salvation. Mat. 22. 5.
Secondly, To offer violence to all his attributes. 1. To his Iustice. For the righteousness of Gods judgment lies, in rendring to all according to their works. Rom. 2. 5, 6. Now, should men sow to the flesh, and yet of the spirit reap everlasting life, Gal. 6. 7, 8. where were the glory of divine Justice, since it should be given to the wicked, according to the work of the righteous? 2. To his holiness. If God ⟨p. 74⟩should not only save sinners, but save them in their sins, his most pure and strict holiness would be exceedingly defaced. The unsanctified is, in the eyes of Gods holiness, worse than a swine, or viper. Mat. 23. 33. 2 Pet. 2. 22. Now what cleanly nature could endure, to have the filthy swine bed and board with him in his parlour, or bed chamber? It would offer extremest violence to the infinite purity of the divine nature, to have such to dwell with him. They cannot stand in his judgment, they cannot abide in his presence. Psal. 1. 5. Psal. 5. 4, 5. If holy David would not endure such in his house, no nor in his sight, Psal. 101. 3, 7. shall we think God will? Should he take men as they be, from the trow to the table, from the harlots lips, from the sty and draugh, to the glory of Heaven, the world would think God were at no such distance from sin, nor had such dislike of it, as we are told he hath: they would conclude, God were altogether such a one as themselves (as they wickedly did, but from the very forbearance of God. Psal. 50. 21.) 3. To his veracity. For God hath declared from Heaven, That if any shall say, they shall have peace, though he should go on in the imagination of his heart: his wrath shall smoak against that man. Deut. 29. 19, 20. That they (only,) that confess, and forsake their sins, shall find mercy. Prov. 28. 13. That they that shall enter into his •ill, must be of clean hands, and a pure heart.
