The dead saint speaking to saints and sinners living in several treatisesThe dead saint speaking to saints and sinners living in severall treatises

If the Law condemn us, we are suffered to appeal to the Gospel: If Justice condemn us, we are suffered to appeal to Mercy. As you see the Publican, who was arraigned, sentenced, and condemned by the Law: But he appeals to the Court of Mercy. — God be merciful ⟨p. 167⟩to me a sinner. And you see the Sentence took no hold on him.

If the Law condemn us, wee are suffered to appeal to the Gospel: If Justice condemn us, wee are suffered to appeal to Mercy. As you see the Publican, who was arraigned, sentenced, and condemned by the Law: But hee appeals to the Court of Mercy. — God bee merciful ⟨p. 167⟩to mee a sinner. And you see the Sentence took no hold on him.

But now, If Mercy condemn us, if the Gospel condemn us, whither shall we appeal? whither shall we go? Now it is Mercy that condemns unbelieving men: they are condemned in the Court of Mercy. Hence one, There is no sin that doth peremptorily, ¹(and Quoad eventum) damn us, but unbelieving. There is no sin that doth (de facto) bring death, but unbelieving. Other sins do create a merit of death: but unbelief doth actually bring death upon the soul. While a man believes not, he is under the Covenant of Works; and there sin doth de facto bring death: it binds all sin upon the conscience, makes a man to stand out, to answer for his own guilt, bear his own curse; and therefore it is said, Joh. 3.18.— He that believes not, is condemned already: He is condemned in all Courts.

But now, If Mercy condemn us, if the Gospel condemn us, whither shall wee appeal? whither shall wee go? Now it is Mercy that condemns unbeleeving men: they are condemned in the Court of Mercy. Hence one, There is no sin that doth peremptorily,