A26806:117
Sermons upon Psalm CXXX, ver. 4 but there is forgiveness with thee, that thou…
Sermons upon Psalm CXXX, ver. 4 but there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayst be feared / by William Bates.
London: printed by J.D. for Brabazon Aylmer, 1696
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
tho there is no Witness to accuse and give Evidence, nay if the Sinner could extinguish his Conscience, yet God will set the Sins of Men in order before them, and convince the Guilty, he needed not their Confession to discover them: but the humble ingenuous and sorrowful Confession of Sin is required, that his Mercy may be more illustrious in the Pardon of our Sins, and that the Sinner may fear to return to Folly. And this Confession must be attended with the forsaking of Sins, in order to our Pardon, because of his immutable Perfections. A Malefactor may justly be condemned for his Crimes, and tho he remains impenitent and obstinate in Evil, may be pardoned, because ⟨p. 103⟩a temporal Prince is capable of various Apprehensions and Passions, and may deflect from the Rule of Justice: but the Judg of the World is unchangeably righteous and holy, and cannot pardon Sinners to the Disparagement of his Majesty, his Purity and Justice.
tho there is no Witness to accuse and give Evidence, nay if the Sinner could extinguish his Conscience, yet God will set the Sins of Men in order before them, and convince the Guilty, he needed not their Confession to discover them: but the humble ingenuous and sorrowful Confession of Sin is required, that his Mercy may be more illustrious in the Pardon of our Sins, and that the Sinner may fear to return to Folly. And this Confession must be attended with the forsaking of Sins, in order to our Pardon, because of his immutable Perfections. A Malefactor may justly be condemned for his Crimes, and tho he remains impenitent and obstinate in Evil, may be pardoned, because ⟨p. 103⟩a temporal Prince is capable of various Apprehensions and Passions, and may deflect from the Rule of Justice: but the Judg of the World is unchangably righteous and holy, and cannot pardon Sinners to the Disparagement of his Majesty, his Purity and Justice.
2. Our pardoning the Offences of others is an evangelical Condition of our obtaining Pardon: We are commanded, When ye stand praying,