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,…

Let not men therefore delude themselves with vain hopes, as if their sins were forgiven, because not yet punished: No, there must be some positive gracious act of God to acquit thee, else thy sins are alive to condemn thee. Examine thy self therefore whether thy peace, comfort, plenty, be a fruit of Gods forbearance merely, or of his acquittance. This later is always an act of his gracious mercy: but the other may be a terrible fruit of his hatred against thee, insomuch that thou hadst better wander up and down like Cain, fearing every thing will kill thee, or damn thee, then be in such security.

Let not men therefore delude themselves with vain hopes, as if their sins were forgiven, because not yet punished: No, there must be some positive gracious act of God to acquit thee, else thy sins are alive to condemn thee. Examine thy self therefore whether thy peace, comfort, plenty, be a fruit of Gods forbearance meerly, or of his acquittance. This later is alwayes an act of his gracious mercy: but the other may be a terrible fruit of his hatred against thee, insomuch that thou hadst better wander up and down like Cain, fearing every thing will kill thee, or damn thee, then be in such security.

Prop. 3.¹ A godly man may account not only himself bound to thank God for the pardon of those sins he hath committed, but he is to acknowledge so many pardons, as by the grace of God he hath been preserved from sin.

1. 1Propos. 3.

And if a believer enter into this consideration, how will it overwhelm him! So often as God hath preserved thee from such and such sins, which thy own heart, or temptations would have inclined thee to, God hath virtually given thee so many pardons. That God preserved David from killing Nabal and his Family, here was interpretatively as great mercy, as in the express forgiving of the murder of Uriah. It is a rule of Divines, Plures sunt gratiae privativae, quàm positivae. There are more preventing graces then positive. The keeping of evils from us, is more then the good he bestoweth on us. Therefore Austin observed well, that as Paul said, By the grace of God I am what I am: So he might also have said, By the grace of God I am not what I am not. Though therefore we are not so sensible of preventing mercies, as of positive, yet a due and right consideration of Gods love in this matter might much inflame our hearts: Say therefore, O Lord, I bless thee, not only for the pardon of those sins I have committed, but also for thy goodness in preserving me from those many thousands, I was prone to fall into, which is in effect, the pardon of so many.