Sermons upon Psalm CXXX, ver. 4 but there is forgiveness with thee, that thou…

1. What is contained in Forgiveness. This necessarily supposes Sin, and Sin a Law that is violated by it: The Law implies a Sovereign Law-giver, to whose declared Will Subjection is due, and who will exact an Account in Judgment ⟨p. 4⟩of Mens Obedience or Disobedience to his Law, and dispense Rewards and Punishments accordingly. God by the clearest Titles is our King, our Law-giver and Judg: for he is our Maker and Preserver, and consequently has a full Propriety in us, and absolute Authority over us: and by his sovereign and singular Perfections is qualified to govern us. A derived Being is necessarily in a State of Dependence and Subjection. All the Ranks of Creatures in the World are ordered by their Maker: his Kingdom rules over all. Those in the lowest degree of Being are ordered by Power. Sensitive Creatures are determined by the Impulses of Nature to their Actions; for having no Light to distinguish between moral Good and Evil, they have no Choice, and are incapable of receiving a Law. Intelligent Creatures, endowed with judicious and free Faculties, an Understanding to discern between moral Good and Evil, and a Will to choose or reject what is propounded to them, are capable of a Law to direct and regulate their Liberty.

1. What is contained in Forgiveness. This necessarily supposes Sin, and Sin a Law that is violated by it: The Law implies a Sovereign Law-giver, to whose declared Will Subjection is due, and who will exact an Account in Judgment ⟨p. 4⟩of Mens Obedience or Disobedience to his Law, and dispense Rewards and Punishments accordingly. God by the clearest Titles is our King, our Law-giver and Judg: for he is our Maker and Preserver, and consequently has a full Propriety in us, and absolute Authority over us: and by his sovereign and singular Perfections is qualified to govern us. A derived Being is necessarily in a State of Dependance and Subjection. All the Ranks of Creatures in the World are order'd by their Maker: his Kingdom rules over all. Those in the lowest degree of Being are order'd by Power. Sensitive Creatures are determin'd by the Impulses of Nature to their Actions; for having no Light to distinguish between moral Good and Evil, they have no Choice, and are incapable of receiving a Law. Intelligent Creatures, endowed with judicious and free Faculties, an Understanding to discern between moral Good and Evil, and a Will to choose or reject what is propounded to them, are capable of a Law to direct and regulate their Liberty.