Chonoyterion he Sion. The refinement of Zion: or, The old orthodox Protestant doctrine justified, and defended against several exceptions of the Antinomians, methodically digested into questions, wherein many weighty and important cases of conscience are handled, concerning the nature of faith and repentance, or conversion to God: of his eternal love, and beholding of sin in his dearest children: of justification from eternity, of of [sic] preparations to the acceptance of Christ, of prayer for pardon of sin, and turning to God: of the gospel covenant, aud [sic] tenders of salvation, on the termes of faith and repentance. For the establishment of the scrupulous, conviction of the erroneous, and consolation of distressed consciences. By Anthony Warton, minister of the word at Breamore in Hampshire.

SECT. VI. Another Objection, answered.

AFter I had thus finished this Question, a friend of mine acquainted me with an argument drawn a Si∣mili, from a similitude, which he heard a Souldier use, to prove that he was not to pray for rhe pardon of his sins: it was this. If one give me a garment, shall I still after I have it, petition and pray him to give it me? It were absurd so to do. Seeing therefore God upon my repentance and faith in Christ, hath forgiven me my sins, it will be no lesse absurd in me, still to pray for the par∣don of them. Whereunto I answer, that an apt simi∣litude doth excellently illustrate a matter after it is prov∣ed; but otherwise there is little, or no force in it at all of it self to prove any thing that is doubtfull, or called in∣to Question, especially, Si illo pede claudicat if it do halt on that foot, wherein the force and strength of the Argument lieth. Now so fareth it with this Similitude of his. For that garment he speaketh of, was abso∣lutely given, and he put into possession of it, without being further bound to the performance of any thing for the time to come, unlesse it were to a duty of thankfulnesse:

But our sins, are not forgiven us absolutely by God, but upon condition that we do repent and believe in Christ, and pray for the pardon of them: yea and this pardon is also granted, not to one individuall act of repentance, or of faith, and prayer: but to perseverance, and continu∣ance in all these, as long as we live here, as I have shew∣ed already. We can have no assurance, nor no hope therefore of the forgivenesse of our sins, if we fall away from the faith, revolt to sin, or leave off praying. Again, a garment is given but once for all, but our sins, were first forgiven ab aeterno, from all eternity in Gods pre∣destination; Secondly, upon our repentance and faith in Christ, they are forgiven in verbo Evangelii in Gods word, in his word of the Gospel.

And lastly, at Christs coming we must all appear before his judgment seat, to be judged openly before all the world, that the equity of his Justice may appear, and be made manifest unto all; to the glory of God, the comfort of his Saints, & the confusion of all the wicked. Untill ther∣fore we shall personally appeare before Christ, & be abso∣lutely absolved by him: we have need still to pray for the pardon of our sins.