N04105:418
The sound believer. A treatise of evangelical conversion. Discovering the work of Christ's spirit,…
The sound believer. A treatise of evangelical conversion. Discovering the work of Christ's spirit, in reconciling of a sinner to God. / By Thomas Shepard, sometime of Emanuel-College in Cambridge, since preacher of God's word in New-England. ; [One line from Matthew]
Boston: printed by Green for D. Henchman, 1742
Title page typeset from the transcription.
THE Sound Believer. › Chapter 2 › Section 1: First, Justification.
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.
Answ. 'Tis merely his Grace, and out of Grace. And hence I call it his gracious Sentence, Rom. 3.24. justified freely by his Grace. What is his Grace? The Prophet Isaiah expounds it to be not our Grace, or Works of Grace, (although' wrought by Grace) but his own Names Sake, Isai. 43.25. In some Respect indeed it is just for God to forgive, viz. in Regard of Christ's Satisfaction, 1 John 1.7. Rom. 3.20. The Mercy Seat and the Tables of the Law in the Ark, may well stand together, but that Christ was sent to satisfy Justice, and that thy Sins were satisfied for, and not another's; thus it's wholly of Grace. If therefore you think the Lord pardons your Sins because you have been less Sinners than others; or if you think the Lord will not pardon your Sins, because you are greater Sinners than any else, you sin exceedingly against the Riches of God's Grace in this Point.
Answ. 'Tis meerly his Grace, and out of Grace. And hence I call it his gracious Sentence, Rom. 3.24. justified freely by his Grace. What is his Grace? The Prophet Isaiah expounds it to be not our Grace, or Works of Grace, (altho' wro't by Grace) but his own Names Sake, Isai. 43.25. In some Respect indeed it is just for God to forgive, viz. in Regard of Christ's Satisfaction, 1 John 1.7. Rom. 3.20. The Mercy Seat and the Tables of the Law in the Ark, may well stand together, but that Christ was sent to satisfy Justice, and that thy Sins were satisfied for, and not anothers; thus it's wholly of Grace. If therefore you think the Lord pardons your Sins because you have been less Sinners than others; or if you think the Lord will not pardon your Sins, because you are greater Sinners than any else, you sin exceedingly against the Riches of God's Grace in this Point.