A supplement to the several discourses upon various divine subjects

IV. Extensiveness, fullness, or perfectness of pardon. 1. In the Act; forgiving, covering, not imputing. 2. In the Object; iniquities, transgressions, and sins.

IV. Extensiveness, fulness, or perfectness of pardon. 1. In the Act; forgiving, covering, not imputing. 2. In the Object; iniquities, transgressions, and sins.

1. Perfect in respect of state. God retains no hatred against a pardoned person. He never imputes sin formally, because he no more remembers it, though virtually he may, to aggravate the offence a Believer hath fallen into after his justification. So Job possessed the sins of his youth. And Christ tacitly put Peter in remembrance of his denial of him. The grant is complete here, though all the fruits of remission are not enjoyed till the day of judgment, and therefore in Scripture, sin is said then to be forgiven. 'Tis a question whether Believers sins will be mentioned at the day of judgment. Some think they will, because all men are to give an account. Methinks there is some evidence to the contrary. Our Saviour never mentioned the unworthy carriage of his Disciples to him in his sufferings, and after his resurrection seems to have removed from him all remembrance of it. 'Tis not to be expected, that a loving Husband will lay open the faults of his tender Spouse upon the day of the public solemnization of the nuptials. But if it be otherwise, 'tis not to upbraid them, but to enhance their admirations of his grace. He will discover their graces as well as their sin, and unstop the Bottles of their tears, as well as open the Book of their transgressions. Our Saviour upon Mary's anointing him, applauds her affection, but mentions not her former iniquity.

1. Perfect in respect of state. God retains no hatred against a pardoned person. He never imputes sin formally, because he no more remembers it, though virtually he may, to aggravate the offence a Believer hath fallen into after his justification. So Job possessed the sins of his youth. And Christ tacitly put Peter in remembrance of his denial of him. The grant is compleat here, though all the fruits of remission are not enjoyed till the day of judgment, and therefore in Scripture, sin is said then to be forgiven. 'Tis a question whether Believers sins will be mentioned at the day of judgment. Some think they will, because all men are to give an account. Methinks there is some evidence to the contrary. Our Saviour never mentioned the unworthy carriage of his Disciples to him in his sufferings, and after his resurrection seems to have removed from him all remembrance of it. 'Tis not to be expected, that a loving Husband will lay open the faults of his tender Spouse upon the day of the publick solemnization of the nuptials. But if it be otherwise, 'tis not to upbraid them, but to enhance their admirations of his grace. He will discover their graces as well as their sin, and unstop the Bottles of their tears, as well as open the Book of their transgressions. Our Saviour upon Maries anointing him, applauds her affection, but mentions not her former iniquity.