An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty second, the thirty third, and…An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the thirty second, the thirty third, and…

I answer as before; Acts of mercy do not cross acts of justice. When the Lord doth not deal with any man according to his sins, it is because he hath freely pardoned his sins; and he doth not reward a man according to his iniquity, because his iniquities are done away; thus he deals with all his own people, who are received to favour through Jesus Christ; but no wicked man, no impenitent person in the world, shall have cause to say, that God hath not dealt with him according to his sin, or hath not rewarded him according to his iniquity. There may be some present stops of Justice, through the patience of God to wicked men; their works are not always presently rendered into their bosoms, but they shall. God will render to every man according to his work, one way or other, one time or other; The full rendering to all men according to their works will be at the great day; in this world the godly do not sometimes receive according to their good works, nor do the wicked according to their evil works; Good men are often rewarded with shame and reproach, with want and poverty, with banishment and imprisonment, with tortures and with death in this present world; but the Lord will have a time to render to them according to their works, though at no time for their works; so look upon wicked men, and their works, they go often unpunished at the present, yea many of them prosper greatly (as I have had occasion to show more then once in opening this Book) they have their good things, many good things in this life, but the time will come when God will render to the wicked their work, and they shall be forced to say, that he hath caused them to find according to their ways. Take two or three inferences from this general truth.

I answer as before; Acts of mercy do not cross acts of justice. When the Lord doth not deal with any man according to his sins, it is because he hath freely pardoned his sins; and he doth not reward a man according to his iniquity, because his iniquities are done away; thus he deals with all his own people, who are received to favour through Jesus Christ; but no wicked man, no impenitent person in the world, shall have cause to say, that God hath not dealt with him according to his sin, or hath not rewarded him according to his iniquity. There may be some present stops of Justice, through the patience of God to wicked men; their works are not alwayes presently rendered into their bosomes, but they shall. God will render to every man according to his work, one way or other, one time or other; The full rendering to all men according to their works will be at the great day; in this world the godly doe not somtimes receive according to their good works, nor doe the wicked according to their evill works; Good men are often rewarded with shame and reproach, with want and poverty, with banishment and imprisonment, with tortures and with death in this present world; but the Lord will have a time to render to them according to their workes, though at no time for their works; so look upon wicked men, and their workes, they goe often unpunished at the present, yea many of them prosper greatly (as I have had occasion to shew more then once in opening this Book) they have their good things, many good things in this life, but the time will come when God will render to the wicked their work, and they shall be forced to say, that he hath caused them to find according to their wayes. Take two or three inferences from this generall truth.