A39663:1541
The Fountain of Life Opened
The fountain of life opened, or, A display of Christ in his essential and mediatorial glory wherein the impetration of our redemption by Jesus Christ is orderly unfolded as it was begun, carried on, and finished by his covenant-transaction, mysterious incarnation, solemn call and dedication ... / by John Flavell ...The fountain of life opened, or, A display of Christ in his essential and mediatorial glory wherein the impetration of our redemption by Jesus Christ is orderly unfolded as it was begun, carryed on, and finished by his covenant-transaction, mysterious incarnation, solemn call and dedication ... / by John Flavell ...
London: printed for Rob. White, 1673
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.
I have two things here to do, First, To open the nature of forgiveness, and show you what it is. Secondly, To evince the possibility of it, for such as mistakingly oppose Christ.
I have two things here to do, First, To open the nature of forgiveness, and shew you what it is. Secondly, To evince the possibility of it, for such as mistakingly oppose Christ.
For the First, Forgiveness is Gods gracious discharge of a believing §1penitent sinner, from the guilt of all his sin, for Christs sake.
It's Gods discharge: There is indeed a fraternal forgiveness, by which one man forgives another; so far as he is interested in the wrong, Luk. 6.37. there is also a ministerial forgiveness, whereby the minister of Christ as his mouth, and in his name declares the pardon, or ministerially applies the promises of pardon to penitent offenders, Joh. 20.23. but none can absolutely, and properly forgive sin, but God only: Mark 2.7. the primary and principal wrong is done to him: Psalm 51.4. Against thee, thee only, (i. e.) thee mainly or especially, I have sinned. Hence sins are metonymically called debts, debts to God, Matth. 6.12. not that we owe them to God, or ought to sin against him; but as a pecuniary debt obliges him that owes it, to the penalty, if he satisfy not for it; so do our sins. And who can discharge the Debtor, but the Creditor?