The true doctrine of justification asserted and vindicated, from the errors of Papists, Arminians,…The true doctrine of justification asserted and vindicated, from the errours of Papists, Arminians,…

Thirdly, The Scripture applieth the threatenings of God to believers, §3as well as to others▪ making no difference between them, unless they repent. Indeed we say against the Papists, that all the sins of justified persons are venial, and not mortal, that is, such as in the event will have pardon, but that is, because the seed of grace will be operative in them, so that they shall either habitually or actually repent of their sins. Neither when the Orthodox say, That Election is absolute ▪ do they exclude the media instituta, means appointed by God, in which the fruit of Election is accomplished, but conditions antecedan•ous, as if that decree did remain suspense and uncertain, till the will of man had determined, 1 Cor. 6.9, 10. The Apostle layeth down an universal rule, such and such gross offenders shall not inherit the kingdom of heaven, that is, those who live so and do not repent, and this is to be extended not only to those who are habitually so, but actually likewise▪ unless they are reformed. Therefore no godly man falling into any of those gross sins, may deceive himself, and think he shall enter into the kingdom of heaven without a change. Godly or ungodly, yet if found in the committing of such a gross sin, unless they do repent, God will not accept one or the other. As repentance is appointed for the wicked man as a duty, without which he cannot be saved; so confession and forsaking of sin, is prescribed a godly man fallen into sin, without which he cannot have remission, 1 Jo. 1.9. There is no such free grace or Gospel▪ as faith to a believer, ⟨p. 72⟩if fallen into a foul sin, whether you repent or no, your sins shall be pardoned to you. Hence 1 Cor. 11. the Apostle makes every man that receiveth unworthily (and yet some of them were godly) to receive their damnation, that is, their eternal damnation, without repentance and reformation; and after repentance, their judgement, though not of condemnation, yet affliction and castigation. How terrible likewise is Paul, He. 12.29. where speaking to the godly that are to receive a kingdom that is eternal, he exhorteth them to duty, Let us have grace ([Greek or Hebrew]) that is, Let us retain and keep grace, [Greek or Hebrew] is for [Greek or Hebrew], as Ro. 15.4. and observe the manner, with reverence and godly fear, [Greek or Hebrew] is such a fear as relateth to punishment;