The harmony of the divine attributes in the contrivance and accomplishment of man's redemption…

but the Gospel clearly reveals to us, that Christ hath performed what is necessary for our Justification, and that by a lively and practical Faith we shall have an Interest in it. The Lord Jesus being ascended, hath given us a convincing proof, that the Propitiation for our Sins is perfect: For otherwise He had not been received into Gods Sanctuary. Therefore to be under perplexities how we may be justified, is to ⟨p. 300⟩deny the value of his Righteousness, and the truth of his Ascension. And say not who shall descend into the deep, to bear the Torments of Hell, and expiate Sin, this is to deny the virtue of his Death, whereby he appeased God, and redeemed us from the wrath to come. In the Law the condemning Righteousness of God is made visible, in the Gospel his justifying Righteousness is revealed, from Faith to Faith. ¹And this is an infallible proof of its divine descent. For whereas all other Religions either stupefy Conscience, and harden it in carnal Security, or terrify it by continual Alarms of Vengeance; the Gospel alone hath discovered how God may show Mercy to repenting Sinners without injury to his Justice. The Heathens robbed one Attribute to enrich another: either they conceived God to be indulgent to their Sins, and easy to pardon, to the prejudice of his Justice; or cruel and revengeful, to the dishonour of his Goodness: But Christians are instructed how these are wonderfully reconciled and magnified in our Redemption. From hence there is a divine calm in the Conscience, and that Peace which passeth Understanding. The Soul is not only freed from the Fear of Gods anger, but hath a lively Hope of his Favour and Love. This is expressed by the Apostle, when he reckons among the Privileges of Believers, That they are come to God the Judg of all, ²and to Jesus the Mediator of the New-Covenant, and to the Blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than the blood of Abel. The apprehension of God as the Judg of the world, strikes the guilty with fear and terror; but as He is sweetened by the Mediator, we may approach to Him with confidence. For what Sins are there which ⟨p. 301⟩so entire a Satisfaction doth not expiate? What Torments can they deserve, which his wounds and stripes have not removed? God is Just as well as Merciful in justifying those who believe in Jesus. 'Tis not the quality of Sins, but of Sinners that excepts them from Pardon.