The fountain of life opened, or, A display of Christ in his essential and mediatorial glory wherein the impetration of our redemption by Jesus Christ is orderly unfolded as it was begun, carryed on, and finished by his covenant-transaction, mysterious incarnation, solemn call and dedication ... / by John Flavell ...

Inference. 1.

Hence it follows, that actual Believers are fully freed from the gilt of their sins,* 1.1 and shall never more come under condem∣nation.

The Obligation of sin is perfectly abolished by the vertue of this Sacrifice. When Christ became our Sacrifice, he both bare, and bare away our sins.* 1.2 First, It was laid upon him, then ex∣piated by him. So much is imported in that word, Heb. 9.28. Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many. To bear, the word is a full and emphatical word: signifying not only to bear, but to bear away. So Joh. 1.29. behold the Lamb of God 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 that taketh away the sins of the world. Not only decla∣ratively, or by way of manifestation to the Conscience; but, re∣ally making a purgation of sin, as it is in Heb. 1.3. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 word for word, a purgation being made, and not on∣ly declared. Now how great a mercy is this, that by him, all that believe should be justified from all things; from which they could not be justified by the Law of Moses? Act. 13.39. What shall we call this grace? Surely we should do somewhat more than admire it,* 1.3 and faint under the sense of such a mercy. Bles∣sed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Psal. 32.1. or Oh the blessedness, or felicities of him that is par∣doned! who can express the mercies, comforts, happiness of such a state as this? Reader, let me beg thee, if thou be one of this pardoned number, to look over thy cancelled bonds, and see what vast sums are remitted to thee. Remember what thou wast in thy natural estate; possibly thou wast in that black bill, 1 Cor. 6.3. what, and yet pardoned! fully and finally pardoned, and that freely as to any hand that thou hadst in the procurement of it! what canst thou do less than fall down at the feet of free grace, and kiss those feet that moved so freely towards so vile a sinner? It is not long since that thy iniquities were upon thee, and thou pinest away in them. Their guilt could by no creature power be separated from thy soul. Now they are removed from thee, as far as the East from the West; Psal. 103.11. So that when the East and West, which are the two opposite points of Heaven meet; then thy soul, and its guilt may meet again together.

O the unspeakable efficacy of Christs Sacrifice! which extends to all sins! 1 Joh. 1.7. the blood of Christ cleanseth from all sins, sins past, and present without exception. And some Divines of good note affirm, all sins to come also, for saith Mr. Paul Baines original sin, in which all future sins are, as fruits in the root, is pardoned, and if these were not pardoned, they would void and irritate former pardons. And lastly it would derogate from the most plenary satisfaction of Christ. But the most say, and I think truly, that all the past sins of Believers, are pardoned without revocation. All their present sins, without exception, but not their sins to come by way of anticipation: and yet for them there is a pardon of course, which is applied on their repentance, and application of Christs blood; so that none of them shall make void former pardons. O let these things slide sweetly to thy melting heart.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Infer. 1.
• * 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 attollere vel sur∣sum ferre. Sic Syriac 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 jula∣vit & sursum tulit Beza Grec. Annot. in 1 Pet. 2.24.
• * 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉