A32724:666
A supplement to the several discourses upon various divine subjects
A supplement to the several discourses upon various divine subjects by Stephen Charnock.
London: printed for Thomas Cockerill, 1683
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
II. The Author of Pardon, God. For pardon is the Sovereign prerogative, of God whereby he doth acquit a believing Sinner from all obligation to Satisfactory punishment upon the account of the Satisfaction and Righteousness of Christ apprehended by Faith.
II. The Author of Pardon, God. For pardon is the Soveraign prerogative, of God whereby he doth acquit a believing Sinner from all obligation to Satisfactory punishment upon the account of the Satisfaction and Righteousness of Christ apprehended by Faith.
1. 'Tis Gods act. Remission is the Creditors not the Debtors act; though the Debtor be obliged in Justice to pay the debt, yet there is no obligation upon the Creditor to demand the debt, because it is at his liberty to renounce or maintain his right to it; and God hath as much power as man to relax his right, provided it be with a Salvo to his own honour, and the holiness of his nature, which he cannot deny for the sinners safety, as the Apostle tells us, God cannot deny himself. Yet properly, say some, though sin be a debt, God is not to be considered in pardon as a Creditor, because sin is not a pecuniary debt, but a criminal, and so God is to be considered as a governor, law-giver, guardian and executor of his laws, and so may dispense with the severities of them. If an inferior person tear an indictment, it may be brought again into Court; but if the chief Magistrate order the casting it out, who can plead it? 'Tis Gods act, and if God justifies who can condemn? Rom. 8.33. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect? It is God that justifies, who shall condemn? That God absolves thee that hath power to condemn thee, that God who enacted the law whereby thou art sentenced, proclaims the Gospel whereby thou art reconciled. 'Tis an offended God who is a forgiving God; that God whose name thou hast profaned, whose patience thou hast abused, whose laws thou hast violated, whose mercy thou hast slighted, whose justice thou hast dared, and whose glory thou hast stained.