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

As if the Son of God had been consecrated by such terrible Sufferings, to purchase and prepare a Pardon for those who sin securely? What an unexpressible indignity is it to make a monstrous alliance between Christ and Belial?

And this abuse of Grace is pernicious to men: if the Antidote be turned into Poison, and the Remedy cherish the Disease, the cause is desperate. The Apostle tells us, Those that do evil that good may come thereby, their damnation is just. Suppose a presuming Sinner were assured, that after he had gratified his carnal vile desires, he should repent and be pardoned, yet 'twere an unreasonable defect of Self-love to do so: What Israelite was so fool-hardy as to provoke a fiery Serpent to bite him, though he knew he should be healed by the brazen Serpent? But 'tis a degree beyond madness, for Men to live in a course of Sin upon the hopes of Salvation, making the Mercy of God to be his bondage, as if he could not be happy ⟨p. 401⟩without them. An unrenewed Sinner may be the object of Gods Compassion, but while he remains so, he is uncapable of Communion with him here, much less hereafter. Under the Law the Lepers were excluded the Camp of Israel, where the presence of God was in a special manner; much more shall those who are covered with moral Pollutions, be kept out from the habitation of his Holiness. 'Tis a mortal Delusion for any to pretend that electing Mercy will bring them to Glory, or that the all-sufficient Sacrifice of Christ will atone God's displeasure towards them, although they indulge themselves in a course of Sin. The Book of Life is secret, only the Lamb with whose Blood the names of the Elect are written there, can open the seals of it. But the Gospel that is a lower Book of Life, tells us the qualifications of those who are vessels of Mercy, they are by Grace prepared for Glory, and that there can be no benefit by the Death of Christ without conformity to his Life. Those who abuse Mercy now, shall have Justice for ever.

And this abuse of Grace is pernicious to men: if the Antidote be turn'd into Poison, and the Remedy cherish the Disease, the cause is desperate. The Apostle tells us, Those that do evil that good may come thereby, their damnation is just. Suppose a presuming Sinner were assured, that after he had gratified his carnal vile desires, he should repent and be pardon'd, yet 'twere an unreasonable defect of Self-love to do so: What Israelite was so fool-hardy as to provoke a fiery Serpent to bite him, though he knew he should be healed by the brazen Serpent? But 'tis a degree beyond madness, for Men to live in a course of Sin upon the hopes of Salvation, making the Mercy of God to be his bondage, as if he could not be happy