Eighteen sermons preached in Oxford 1640 of conversion, unto God. Of redemption, & justification,…

First, God takes away the punishment. There is now (saith the Apostle) no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after ⟨p. 419⟩the Spirit; what, nothing in him worthy condemnation? God knows we are worthy of a thousand condemnations. There are two Judges; there is a double guilt; when a man is brought to the bar, first, the Jury judge the fact, and then the Judge that sits on the Bench, he judgeth the punishment; one saith guilty or not guilty? the other saith guilty, then he judgeth him. Now when we are justified, we are freed from both these guilts; sin when it is accomplished, it bringeth forth death: You know the natural work of sin, [Greek or Hebrew], it labours with death; now God will stop the acts of it, that it shall not do that which it is apt to do, which is as good as if the sin were taken away; when there were wild gourds sliced into the pot, 2 Kings 4.31. it's said the Prophet took that venomous herb away; (i. e.) though the thing were there, yet it is as if it were not there, it shall do no manner of hurt: Bring now and pour out, and there was no evil thing. So in respect of us, though there be an evil thing in punishment, and if we had our due, would bring condemnation, yet when we are sprinkled with the blood of Christ, it can do us no evil, no hurt; it's said in the Scripture, that the stars fell from heaven; why the stars are of that bigness that they cannot fall from heaven to the earth; but they are said to fall, when they give not their light, and do not that for which they were put there; so though I have committed sin, yet when God is pleased for Christs sake to pardon it, it is as if it were not there at all.

First, God takes away the punishment. There is now (saith the Apostle) no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after ⟨p. 419⟩the Spirit; what, nothing in him worthy condemnation? God knows we are worthy of a thousand condemnations. There are two Judges; there is a double guilt; when a man is brought to the barre, first, the Jury judge the fact, and then the Judge that sits on the Bench, he judgeth the punishment; one saith guilty or not guilty? the other saith guilty, then he judgeth him. Now when we are justified, we are freed from both these guilts; sinne when it is accomplish't, it bringeth forth death: You know the natural work of sinne, , it labours with death; now God will stop the acts of it, that it shall not do that which it is apt to do, which is as good as if the sinne were taken away; when there were wilde guords sliced into the pot,