Gospel reconciliation, or, Christ's trumpet of peace to the world

Note, 1. And the first is this. That there may be sin in the soul, and yet not imputed, Therefore there may be a righteousness imputed which is not our own, there is the same ground of both. Many of our adversaries do cry out of imputation of righteousness: say they, how can that which is none of our righteousness, be made ours? for so it is if we believe, the Righteousness of Christ which is none of ours is made ours, how can that be, say they? Yes, as well as that which is our sin shall not be made our sin, if that which is our own shall not be imputed, then that which is not our own may be imputed likewise.

Note, 1. And the first is this. That there may be sin in the soul, and yet not imputed, Therefore there may be a righteousness imputed which is not our own, there is the same ground of both. Many of our adversaries do crie out of imputation of righteousness: say they, how can that which is none of our righteousness, be made ours? for so it is if we beleeve, the Righteousness of Christ which is none of ours is made ours, how can that be, say they? Yes, as wel as that which is our sin shal not be made our sin, if that which is our own shal not be imputed, then that which is not our own may be imputed likewise.

Note 2. Secondly: (Which is a note of marvellous Comfort) There may be a Reconciliation with God, even while there remains much sin in the Soul. It is not said thus. Reconciling the world to himself taking away their sins, purging out all their sins, as if ⟨p. 175⟩there could be no Reconciliation till all their Sins were taken away; But he was reconciling the World to himself, not imputing, that is the Phrase. As if he had said. O! you Sinners, so long as you live in the world, you will have sin, and therefore do not think that God is not reconciled unto you, or that you are not reconciled unto God; No, though sin be remaining in your hearts, yet God may be reconciled unto you not imputing your sins. This should be an argument to you, to labour to purge out sin as much as you can, seeing the grace of God is such; that sin remaining in you, yet God is still reconciling you to himself: it is not so much to think, that God should be reconciled to the Angels in Heaven that have no sin in them. O! but God to be reconciled to his Saints upon Earth that have so much sin in them; that is much. There are many of the people of God that cannot distinguish between the not imputing of sin and being of sin in them; they think because they have much sin in them, the Lord will not be reconciled to them. But know thou; though sin be in thee, yet thee may be no imputation of sin to thee, and therefore learn to distinguish between sin being in thee, and sin being not imputed to thee.