teou ́nefs, or perlonal perfections & good works, yet they cannot fatisfie for the least one of our lins. yea the very offer of them as a price of redemption is enough to flick the bargain, and fo both we & this our money will perifh with us, for to think that the gift of God may be purchased with this kind of price, when God has declared the contrare, is a wicked juttling out Gods method with our own; therefore I tay, never talk any more at this rate, for Chrift bav ing paid all, there is nothing for thee to pay,neither batt thou any more to do but (renouncing thy own righteoutnels, and utterlie disclaiming all grounds ot claim otherwife) cordiallie to accept of the freelie offered redemption which Chrift bas purchafed at the dear price of his precious blood, 4.53.10.11. A 20, 28. Rev. 5.9. and that we cannot be re deemed for any price we are able to pay, either in the way of Suffering or doing, is moft plain from that notable paffage of Scripture, which I wish were ehs graven on all our hearts, as with the piont of a Dia mond, Ifa, 43, 24, 25. Thou baft bought me no Sweet cane with money (this excludes all coft aud charges of our own) neither baft thou filled me with the fat of thy facrifices (none of our religious actions can ap peafe his anger, or conciliat bis favour to us.) but thou has made me to ferve with thy fins, then haft wearis ed me with thine iniquities (whereby thou jullie des ferves the wages or my everlasting displeasure) yet after all that is faid here of their not doing good, & abundantlie doing ill, fays the good God, I, even I am he that blotteth out thy tranfgreffions for mine own Lake, and will not remember thy fins, O gracious words

and

and fweet, worthy of all acceptation and perpés tual meditation.

60. Why should I offer to buy Chrifls A&t of Indemnity, for it only concernerb fuch criminals whofe fins are pardonable, but as for me, I am guilty of the unpardonable fin again the Holy Ghof, at leaft I am whiles fadly perplexed with frightfull apprehenfions of it.

Anfu, Tby care and fear about this fin is a Aronger demonftration thou art not guilty of it, then thy bare affertion or apprehenfion is a proof that thou art guilty, for one main ingredient in the compofition of this fio is wilfull confirmed im. penitency excluding all degrees of repentance, whereof care and tear about guilt and Soul bazard is one; but a chief anfwer that I give you here fhall be in a defcription of this feared fin, with which comparing thy felf, I leave it to the candor of thy confcience to make a juft conclufion, The fin against the Holy Ghoft may be defcribed thus,

It is a profeffing, knowing Chriftian, bis wilfull, avowed, zealous, and malicious renouncing,bating and perfecuting Chrift, his religion and members, with a desperate refifting the inward motions of the Holy Ghoft, and rejecting the outward means of re covery to repentance and falvation, Matth, 12. 24. 32. Heb. 6, 4, 5, 6. Heb. 10 26 29. Now doubting Chriftian to fave my time and labour, I refer to thy self to analize, (or take into its several parts this de Icription, & ingenuoufly apply the fame to thy own cafe as before God, and I dare fay thy Confcience will acquit thee from the charge and guilt of unpardonable fin,

7. 05. When I confider my need of an A&t of Indemnitie, I cannot choose but be willing and des firous to have the benefit of it, but I fear God is not willing to give it, this is my ftrait,

Anfo. O trange! what a shamefull fort of obs je&ionis this, when the direct exprefs, scope of pur Text, and of this whole Treatife upon it, yea and I may fay of the whole Bible, is an undeniable mani! fefto of Gods willingness to pardon & fave finners; but that I may more particularly evince this, pray confider thele following Demonflrations, which I will but briefly name and glance at, leaving further enlargement to thy own ferious Meditations.

Demonftrat. He hath discovered to us our loft and finfull eftate, Ezk, 16. Hef. 13.9. Rom, girl. 2. Demon. He makes open Proclamation that He is willing to pardon our fins,1fa.55, 1, 2, 3, Mat, 11.19

3. Demon He bath appointed a Saviour to us, yea was willing and content to part with his own dear Son, & fend him out of heaven to this world on this very errand, Al5 31, 1 Tim. 1,15, ■ Job.

4. 14.

4. D. mon.He hath fent Ambaffadors to treat with us for reconciliation, Mat, 22. 23. 49, 2 Cor, 5. 20. 5 Demon. He hath appointed variety of outward Ordinances as fit & proper means for accomplish ing this His Will, and hath also promifed to blefs thefe means that they may be effectual, Matth, 28, 19,20 A3.38.40. A, 26. 18.

6 Demon. He daily forbears to execute upon us the due punishment of our fins, which for power He an do to our utter damnation, and which for juftice

He

He may do by righteous, condemnation, but be wait's to be gracious, willing rather his goodness fhould lead us to repentance & amendment of life, and in end to eternal life, Luk. 13, 7. Rom. 2.4, 7. 7. Demon. He fwears he is willing, Ezek. 33.11. 8. Demon. His commiffionated Officers fay be is willing, 238,39,1 Tim, 2.4 2 Pet. 3.9.1 Job. 1.9 9. Demon, Chrift bis own Son fays that he is wil ling, John 6.40.

10. Demon, He wishes that we were but willing, Dent, 4. 19.

11. Demon. He hath promifed to make us wil ling, Pal, Iro 3. Ezek, 36. 27. 31, Phil 2, 13. 12, Demon, He laments and regrates our unwil fingnefs, Luk. 13.34, John 5.40.

4

All thefe Demonftrations prove clearly, what the Apoftle faith, 1 Tim. 1. 4. that God our Saviour will have all men to be faved, & confequently that this objc&ion here is moft vain and groundlefs.

8. Obj. But if God be fo willing to fave, and fo prodigal of his Chrift, why doth be not give me Chrift? or draw me to Chrift

Anfo. Seeing in what is faid already, and what may be faid anone in anfwering fome more objecti ons, a fatisfying anfwer may be framed, I will offer no more here, but only the anfwer that pious Mr. Shepheard gives to the fame objection, fays he, fin cere convert p. 116, What command doft thou look for to draw thee to Chrift, but this word, come? Ob come, thou poor, forlorn, loft, blind,curfed no thing. I will fave thee, I will enrich thee, I will for give thee, I will enlighten thee, I will bless thee, I E

will be all things unto thee, do all things for thee. May not this win & melt the heart of a devil; fays he.

I.

SECTION III

Some Conditions of Sale, with a Caution of twe,

Condition of Sale in buying Heavens Act of In

demnitie, ye muft with fhame and confufion of face repent of all your former rebellions, you muft come with a rope about your necks as a Symbole of your felf-condemnation, and that ye are worthy of Gods heigh difpleafure; and with a humbled heart you most throw your felves down at the Kings footftool, accufing your felves of lefe Majefic, and taking with the charge of moft unnatural Treason, acknowledging your juft defert of the fentence of condemnation to eternal deltruction. Dan, 9.8, 9, O Lord, to us belongeth confufion of face, because we have rebelled again thee; but to the Lord our God bes ૐ | .longeth mercies and forgivenes, or with him is the power & grace to indemnifie; if you repent of the evils of your ways, God will repent him of the e vil threatned against you, Jer. 18. 8

་་

2. Condit, You mufl forthwith lay down your weapons of rebellion, or turn from all your courfes of fin and wickedness, whereby God is offended and made your enemie. Ifa ss. 7. Let the wicked for fake his way, the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have m rcy upon bim, and to our God for he will abundantly pardon.

"

Obj. We are not in a capacitie to perform what is

required