The Method of Grace

First, Ex parte Dei, on Gods part, who is the righteous Judge of the whole earth, and will therefore render unto every man according as his works shall be: for shall not the Judge of the whole earth do right? he will judge the world in righteousness, and righteousness requires that difference be made in the punishment of Sinners according to the different degrees of their sins. Now that there are different degrees of sin is abundantly clear from what we have lately discoursed under the former head: where we have showed that the light under which men sin, puts extraordinary aggravations upon their sins: answerable whereunto will the degrees of punishment be awarded by the righteous Judge of Heaven and earth. The Gentiles who had no other light but that dim light of nature, will be condemned for disobeying the law of God written upon their hearts: but yet greater wrath is reserved for them who sin both against the light of nature, and the light of the Gospel also: and therefore it is said, Rom. 2. 9. Tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man that doth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile. Impenitent Jews and Gentiles will all be condemned at the Bar of God: but with this difference, to the Jew first, (i. e.) principally and especially because the light and mercy which he abused and violated were far greater than those bestowed upon the Gentiles, because unto them were committed the Oracles of God; and God had not dealt with any Nation as with that Nation. Indeed in the rewards of obedience the same reason doth not hold: he that came into the Vineyard at the last hour of the day may be equal in reward with him that bare the heat and burden of the whole ⟨p. 558⟩day, because the reward is of grace and bounty, not of debt and merit: but it is not so here, justice observes an exact proportion in distributing punishments according to the degrees, deserts and measures of sin; and therefore it is said concerning Babylon, Rev. 18. 7. How much she had glorified her self and lived deliciously; so much torment and sorrow give her.

First, Ex parte Dei, on Gods part, who is the righteous Judge of the whole earth, and will therefore render unto every man according as his works shall be: for shall not the Judge of the whole earth do right? he will judge the world in righteousness, and righteousness requires that difference be made in the punishment of Sinners according to the different degrees of their sins. Now that there are different degrees of sin is abundantly clear from what we have lately discoursed under the former head: where we have shewed that the light under which men sin, puts extraordinary aggravations upon their sins: answerable whereunto will the degrees of punishment be awarded by the righteous Judge of Heaven and earth. The Gentiles who had no other light but that dim light of nature, will be condemned for disobeying the law of God written upon their hearts: but yet greater wrath is reserved for them who sin both against the light of nature, and the light of the Gospel also: and therefore it is said,