All evils are either Moral, such as sin; or which waits upon the other, Physical, such as punishment: all of them are removed by our Saviour, who saves from Sin and Wrath. Man was under the guilt of Sin, and so under the Wrath of God. Wrath in the threatening hung as an horrible Tempest over his head, and within there was the dreadful Echo of it in Conscience. But the Sufferings of Christ were so satisfactory and meritorious for us, that as soon as we return and believe on him, all our guilt is done away. It's true, the guilt in it self, in the intrinsical desert of punishment, is perpetual, because sin cannot cease to be sin; but it doth no longer redound upon our persons, to oblige us to punishment. The heavy burden is now lifted off from Conscience, the black Cloud of Wrath is dissolved, the cursing Law hath nothing to say against us; There is no condemnation to them which are in Christ, ⟨p. 88⟩Rom. 8.1. It's true, afflictions may fall upon a Believer, but there is no Condemnation, there is not a jot of Wrath in them; they are rather Castigatory than Penal, managed in the hand of Mercy, rather than Justice. In the issue it appears, that there was Love and Faithfulness in them, that even in those afflicting paths, Mercy and Truth are found: all things shall work together for good unto the Believer, Afflictions and all. These serve for excellent purposes, to fan off his Vanity, melt away his Corruption, alarm his spiritual Watch, refine his golden Graces, cast him into the Image of a meek suffering Christ, unearth, unself him, and elevate his affections towards the everlasting rest which is above. Affliction, after it hath budded and blossomed with such precious fruits, is no longer evil, but an excellent good. It's true also, that death Temporal will seize upon him, but the curse is gone, the sting out; death, which at first was a punishment, now hath a blessing in it. It was Originally introduced by sin; but through the admirable Grace of our Saviour it carries away those relics of sin, which no Tears, Prayers, Watchings, Pious endeavours could utterly extirpate, whilst we are in the body: it throws down the earthen walls into their mother-dust. But who would not dye, and with Hilarion bid his Soul, Go out, that he might be rid of sin? There is indeed a passage out of a Temporal life, but it is into an Eternal one.
All evils are either Moral, such as sin; or which waits upon the other, Physical, such as punishment: all of them are removed by our Saviour, who saves from Sin and Wrath. Man was under the guilt of Sin, and so under the Wrath of God. Wrath in the threatning hung as an horrible Tempest over his head, and within there was the dreadful Eccho of it in Conscience. But the Sufferings of Christ were so satisfactory and meritorious for us, that as soon as we return and believe on him, all our guilt is done away. It's true, the guilt in it self, in the intrinsecal desert of punishment, is perpetual, because sin cannot cease to be sin; but it doth no longer redound upon our persons, to oblige us to punishment. The heavy burden is now lifted off from Conscience, the black Cloud of Wrath is dissolved, the cursing Law hath nothing to say against us; There is no condemnation to them which are in Christ, ⟨p. 88⟩Rom. 8.1. It's true, afflictions may fall upon a Believer, but there is no Condemnation, there is not a jot of Wrath in them; they are rather Castigatory than Penal, managed in the hand of Mercy, rather than Justice. In the issue it appears, that there was Love and Faithfulness in them, that even in those afflicting paths, Mercy and Truth are found: all things shall work together for good unto the Believer, Afflictions and all. These serve for excellent purposes, to fan off his Vanity, melt away his Corruption, alarm his spiritual Watch, refine his golden Graces, cast him into the Image of a meek suffering Christ, unearth, unself him, and elevate his affections towards the everlasting rest which is above. Affliction, after it hath budded and blossomed with such precious fruits, is no longer evil, but an excellent good. It's true also, that death Temporal will seize upon him, but the curse is gone, the sting out; death, which at first was a punishment, now hath a blessing in it. It was Originally introduced by sin; but through the admirable Grace of our Saviour it carries away those reliques of sin, which no Tears, Prayers, Watchings, Pious endeavours could utterly extirpate, whilest we are in the body: it throws down the earthen walls into their mother-dust. But who would not dye, and with Hilarion bid his Soul, Go out, that he might be rid of sin? There is indeed a passage out of a Temporal life, but it is into an Eternal one.
