N00802:299
The truly blessed man
The truly blessed man: or, The way to be happy here, and for ever: being the substance of divers sermons preached on, Psalm XXXII. / By Samuel Willard, teacher of a church in Boston. N.E. ; [Five lines from Isaiah]
printed by B. Green for Michael Perry, 1700
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.
3. God, designing his own Glory in forgiving the Sinner, doth it in such a way, as may be in all respects answerable. Gods last end in all his works is his own Glory; that there are designs of love and good will to the Creature in many of these works, is beyond question; but these are subordinated, and ever refer to that as their highest aim, and are accordingly so regulated as to advance it in the accomplishment of them: So that though God intends the Sinners Salvation when he Justifieth him, and therefore together with forgiveness, he entitleth him to the Kingdom; yet there are several Attributes that are concerned in this affair, every of which must have its lustre herein: and as his rich grace and mercy are in this exalted gloriously; and as his Justice must be secured from wrong, yea and triumph in it; so there is his Holiness here to be displayed, for God will be Holy in all his doings, Psal. 145.17. Now the Holiness of God hath a special concern here, in the manifestation of the hatred he bears to sin, notwithstanding the love he bears to the person whom he pardons; and if God should forgive the Sinner, and yet not take away his Guile, or purge him from his sin, and overturn the Dominion of it, he would seem not only to love the person, but approve of his iniquity, contrary to, Hab. 1.13. On this account, wicked men, who for the present escape punishment think so, Psal. 50.21. And therefore to vindicate his holiness, wherever ⟨p. 118⟩he pardons sin, he subdues it: they go together, Mic. 7.19.
3. God, designing his own Glory in forgiving the Sinner, doth it in such a way, as may be in all respects answerable. Gods last end in all his works is his own Glory; that there are designs of love and good will to the Creature in many of these works, is beyond question; but these are subordinated, and ever refer to that as their highest aim, and are accordingly so regulated as to advance it in the accomplishment of them: So that though God intends the Sinners Salvation when he Justifieth him, and therefore together with forgiveness, he entituleth him to the Kingdom; yet there are several Attributes that are concerned in this affair, every of which must have its lustre herein: and as his rich grace and mercy are in this exalted gloriously; and as his Justice must be secured from wrong, yea and triumph in it; so there is his Holiness here to be displayed, for God will be Holy in all his doings,