A brief declaration and vindication of the doctrine of the Trinity as also of…

Secondly, It is free on the part of the persons that are forgiven. In that (1.) It is given and granted to them without any satisfaction made by them for their former transgressions. (2.) Without any merit to purchase or procure it. (3.) Without any penal satisfactory suffering here, or in a purgatory hereafter. (4.) Without any Expectation of a future recompense; or that being pardoned, they should then make or give any satisfaction for what they had ⟨p. 176⟩done before. And as any of these things would, so nothing else can impeach the freedom of pardon and forgiveness. Whether then we respect the pardoner or the pardoned, Pardon is every way free; namely, on the part of God who forgives, and on the part of sinners that are forgiven. If God now hath besides all this, provided himself a Lamb for a Sacrifice; if he hath in Infinite Wisdom and Grace found out a way, thus freely to forgive us out sins, to the praise and glory of his own Holiness, Righteousness and severity against sin, as well as unto the unspeakable advancement of that Grace, Goodness and bounty which he immediately exerciseth in the pardon of sin, are these mens eyes evil, because he is good? Will they not be contented to be pardoned, unless they may have it at the rate of despoiling God of his Holiness, Truth, Righteousness and Faithfulness? And as this is certainly done ⟨p. 177⟩by that way of pardon which these men propose, no reserve in the least being made for the glory of God in those holy properties of his nature which are immediately injured and opposed by sin; so that pardon it self which they pretend so to magnify, having nothing to influence it but a mere arbitrary act of Gods will, is utterly debased from its own proper worth and excellency. And I shall willingly undertake to manifest, that they derogate no less from Grace and Mercy in pardon, than they do from the Righteousness and Holiness of God by the forgiveness which they have feigned; and that in it both of them are perverted, and despoiled of all their glory.

Secondly, It is free on the part of the persons that are forgiven. In that (1.) It is given and granted to them without any satisfaction made by them for their former transgressions. (2.) Without any merit to purch•se or procure it. (3.) Without any poenal satisfactory suffering here, or in a purgatory hereafter. (4.) Without any Expectation of a future recompence; or that being pardoned, they should then make or give any satisfaction for what they had