A learned and accurate discource concerning the guilt of sin, pardon of that guilt, and prayer for that pardon written many years ago by the Reverend Mr. Thomas Gilbert ; now published from his own manuscript left by him some years before his death with a friend in London.

Two only considerable Objections, I apprehend, may be made against this Doctrine.

This Doctrine throws open a wide gap to all Loosness and Licentious∣ness of Life, as throwing down the greatest Mound and Bar against Sin,

Fear of contracting Legal Guilt, or Obligation to Legal Punishment.

[Ans. 1] This seems to be an Objection of meer Carnal Men, who according to the meer, carnal, corrupt complexion and agreeable Inclination of their own Hearts, thinking with them∣selves what perverse use they should make of such Pardoning Grace, were they the Subjects of it, make an E∣stimate of others who are indeed so, by themselves judging they also can∣not but do the like. But

[Ans. 2] To whose Persons the Legal Guilt of Sin is thus Pardon'd, in their Na∣tures the Reigning Power of Sin is so Dethron'd and broken down, as thenceforward they can only be Guil∣ty of Sins of Child-like Infirmity; as to which God stands in Christ en∣gaged, upon their Gospel-Repentance, to walk with them in a Covenant of Fatherly Pardoning Grace and Mer∣cy: Insomuch, that whereas Rom. 6. 12. the Percept makes it their Du∣ty, that Sin should not reign in their mortal bodies; the Promise ver. 14.

makes it their Priviledge, that sin should not have Dominion over them, because not under the Law, but under Grace: And in ver. 15. the Apostle urging this very Objection, puts it off, as he doth else-where also, with the greatest abhorrence of a God for∣bid.

[Ans. 3] Those who pass under this Rela∣tive change of the State and Con∣dition of their Persons from a State of Sin to a State Grace, perfectly Justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus, i. e. by the Satisfaction and Merit of Christ, imputed to them; pass also at the same time under an Absolute Change of the meerly car∣nal, sinful Complexion and Disposi∣tion of their Natures, to some De∣gree of a Spritual Frame and Tem∣per, Sanctified by the Spirit of their God, 1 Cor. 6. 11. put into them in Habitual Sanctification; and as to Actual Sanctification, by his Actual Influences, Rom. 8. 14. Acting and Leading them, as Children of God, in all the good wayes of God their Father. So that from the Later of

those Changes, they have their Prin∣ciple and Power; and from the For∣mer, their Argument and Engage∣ment, not to walk after the Flesh, but after the Spirit, Rom. 8. 1. Their Dis-obligation to Legal Punishment, their Obligation to Gospel-Obedi∣ence, and that a powerful Constrain∣ing Obligation also, 2 Cor. 5. 14, 15.

[Ans. 4] Among, and above other Habits and Principles of Grace, Gospel-Faith, Child-like Love, and Fear, have an especial Influence upon, and Sway in the Souls of such changed ones; to this Purpose

1. Faith, that instates in such Pardoning Grace, is the root of all their Obedience, as Infidelity is the Root of all others Disobedience: Faith purifying their Hearts, Acts 15. 9. Faith, whereby they believe, not only the Promises of God, the Grace and Mercy bound up in them; but the Precepts of God also Psal. 119. 66. the Obedience and Duty bound up in them; that these Precepts are Holy, Just and Good; and that Duty

and Service they require, reasonable Duty and Service; Reasonable for God to enjoyn, and Reasonable for them to perform.

2. Love of Christ, upon consi∣deration of what he hath done and suffer'd to procure this Pardon for them, which will make his whole Law a Law of Love to them, and their Observance of it, sweet and easie for them. And if the Woman in the Gospel, Luke 7. 47 loved Christ the more, the more Sins he forgave her; the Virtual Pardon of Believers Sins to come, being more, than the Formal Pardon only of Sins past, will make them Love more, and conse∣quently Sin less, and obey more.

3. Child-like Fear of Fatherly Chastisements, will impress and pre∣serve more effectual Dread of Sin, upon the Hearts of Believers, than Slavish Fear of Judiciary Punish∣ments, will do upon the Minds of Unbelievers: Whereof much might be said here, if enough had not been said before.

[Ans. 5] As Formal Pardon of Sins past doth not less, but more affect with Godly Sorrow for such Sins past; So doth Virtual Pardon of Sins to come, not engage to less, but more of God∣ly Watchfulness against Sins, for the time to come.

This Doctrine will Destroy Pray∣er for Pardon of Sin, leaving neither Need of, nor Room for it, in Belie∣vers.

But this Second Objection hath been sufficiently answered in the Third Head of this Discourse, where 'tis made clearly to appear, that this Doctrine is so far from being Destruc∣tive of, that 'tis Instructive in, and about, Prayer for Pardon.

Notes

• Obj. 1.
• Obj. 2.
• Answ.