I. Scripture-light the most sure light ... delivered in three sermons on 2 Pet.…

Answ. 2 Secondly: As Godly men shall never be condemned for their sins, so their sins shall never part God and them. What is the s•eming Reason why some are so discouraged about their sins? but because they think they shall not only lose the face and presence of God by their sins, but that they shall lose God himself. But now, I say, the sins of the Godly shall never part God and them; their sins may hide Gods Face: But as their sins did not hinder God and their coming together at first, so their sins shall never part ⟨p. 62⟩God and them: their sins may cause a strangeness between God and them, but shall never cause an Enmity; their sins may hide Gods Face from them, but shall never turn Gods back upon them; those whom God Loves, he loves unto the end; I am the Lord that changeth not, saith he. And as the Prophet Isaiah speaks, As the Covenant that the Lord made with Noah, such is the Covenant that he makes with his People. Now look into Genesis, Chap. 8. and you shall see what the Covenant is, that the Lord made there with Noah, and with the World by Noah: When Noah came out of the Ark, he built an Altar, and Sacrificed, verse 21. And the Lord smelled a sweet savour, and the Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse the Ground for mans sake; Why? For the Imagination of mans heart is evil from his youth. You would think this were a reason why God should curse the Ground again; for the imagination of mans heart is evil from his youth; man is wicked, therefore surely God will curse the Ground again: nay, saith the Lord, but though you that are poor Creatures think so, yet I that am the God of all Grace, I make this Covenant with the World by Noah, That I will not curse the Ground any more for mans sake; Because the Imagination of mans heart is evil from his youth continually.¹ I confess indeed the Hebrew, [Greek or Hebrew], signifies Quamvis, Although; as well as Quoniam, Because: and it may be so translated; Although the Imagination of mans heart is evil, &c. (Yet the Chaldee Paraphrase, Septuagint, Hierom, ²and Montanus, render it, Because) But though it be so translated, yet that is enough to make good the Truth and Doctrine which I urge from this Scripture.³