For is God unrighteous, who taketh vengeance? God forbid for then how fhall God judge the World? Rom. iii. 5, 6.

THE Juftice of God is Two-fold. I. Remunerative. II. Vindicative.

1. THE Remunerative Juftice of God, is his Juftice of Faithfulness, whereby he freely rewardeth the Righteous for Chrift's Sake, according to his Promises. When God of his meer Mercy had purposed to fend Chrift into the World to fatisfie his Justice for our Sins, and to purchase Grace and Glory for us, he promised in Chrift, and for his Sake, to accept, juftifie, and fave all that believe in him, and walk according to the Rule of the Gospel. And what God hath promised he is bound to perform; because it is Juftice that he fhould act according to his Promife. For though God be not fimply bound to any, but is a moft free Difpenfer of all his Bleffings, yet when he hath promised to reward the Righteoufnefs of his Servants, he is bound to do it by his Truth and Juftice of Faithfulness. For Juftice requires the Performance of that which is promifed, though it were a free Act to promise it. And therefore if we confess our our fins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our fins, and to cleanfe us from all unrighteoufnefs, 1 John i. 9.

Bur though God be bound by his Promise to reward the Righteous, yet he is not bound in ftrict Juftice, or for the Worth and Merit of their Works, to reward them: For there is no Equality between the good Works of the Faithful, and the Reward promised to them. Neither doth God crown them with Glory, because they deserve it, but because he hath

F 4

freely

freely promifed it: For if God fhould deal in ftrict Juftice, the beft Saint on Earth would come fhort of a Reward in Heaven. So that God is not obliged by our Works, but only by his own gracious Promife, to reward us. And according to the Improvement which every one hath made of the Talents of Grace, fuch fhall be their Reward.

2. THE Vindicative Justice of God, is that Juftice which moves him to punifh the Wicked according to their Deferts. Though God be very gracious and patient, and ready to forgive upon Amendment, yet he will by no Means clear the guilty, nor fuffer impenitent Sinners to escape Vengeance: For God will recompenfe the Way of the Wicked upon their own Heads. And they that will not, while they may, embrace Mercy, fhall at laft, against their Wills, feel the Fury of Juftice. For God is not fo gentle as to neglect Juftice; but when Men have filled up the Meafure of their Sins, he will pour upon them the full Vials of his Wrath. And the Measure of their Punishment fhall be proportionable to the Measure of their Sins: And none fhall fuffer more than he hath moft juftly deserved.

AND moft equal it is, that they who wilfully continue in Sin, and reject God's Offers of Mercy, fhould be rejected of him, and fuffer eternal Mifery. For when God hath fet Life and Death, Blffing and Curfing before us, if we refufe Life and Bleffing, and take that Course which we know will bring us unto Death and Curfing, 'tis juft with God to punish us according to our own Choice. Indeed Men would Sin, and not perish, if they might have their Will. For they do not directly defire Death and De

ftruction

ftruction; but because they walk in that Way which leadeth to Ruin, they do in effect chuse it. And most deservedly are they condemned, who had rather enjoy the Pleasures of Sin that are prefent, than labour and wait for Heavenly Happiness, which is future. For they that prefer their own Lufts before the Joys of Heaven, are unworthy of them. And none can we blame but our felves for our eternal Mifery, if we continue obftinate in our Sins, when we are warned of the fad Confequence of them, and have fufficient Means allowed to turn from them. THE Duties which may be inferred from this Attribute of God, are Three.

First, WE fhould acknowledge, that God is Righteous in all his Ways. As God hath prefcribed us our Duty in his written Word: So, according to this Rule, he will deal with us, and punish none but fuch as tranfgrefs against it. For God behaveth himself towards us, not as an abfolute Sovereign, but as an equitable Judge. Neither doth he execute Vengeance on any, meerly to fhew his Power, but to declare his Juftice. For God judgeth without refpect of perfons, according to every man's works, 1 Pet. i. 17. And if Men would in Time repent and turn from their Sins unto God, they may obtain Favour with him, and efcape his Judgments; but if they will not ceafe from Sin, they must expect to be dealt with according to the Defert of their Sins. So that in all Reason we ought to justifie God in all his Proceedings, and to acknowledge the Equity of all his Dealings.

Secondly, IF God be faithful and just to reward the Righteous, then we fhould be careful to do eur Duty, that we may be rewarded. Though

the

the Works of Righteousness, which we have done, are no way equal to the Reward which God hath promised, yet because he hath promifed, he is bound by his Truth and Faithfulness to reward us. And when we have finished our Course in Holinefs, God will crown us with Glory, not because we deferve that Glory, but because he hath freely promised it on that Condition. For though a pious and holy Life be not the Cause of Salvation, yet it is the Way that leads to it. And without holiness no man fhall fee the Lord, Heb. xii. 14. For we cannot reafonably expect the Reward, which God hath promifed, unless we do what he requires, in order to obtain it.

Thirdly, IF God be juft to punifh impenitent Sinners, then we fhould be careful to avoid Sin, that we may escape Punishment. Every Sin in its own Nature deferveth Death. But 'tis the Continuance in Sin that bringeth Destruction. For where Sin reigns, and no Repentance follows, there can be no ground to expect Pardon and Salvation. But fo long as Men continue in Sin, they are fubject to the Wrath of God. And if they die without Repentance, there is no Hope of Mercy for them; but after they have wearied themselves in the Ways of Wickednefs, they fhall find Hell at the end of their Journey.

CHAP.

T

CHA P. XXVI.

Of the TRUTH of GOD.

HE tenth Relative Property of God, is his Truth or Veracity, which is an Attribute, whereby he is effentially true and faithful in all his Words and Works. Truth is not a Quality inherent in God, but his very Effence: And 'tis as impoffible for God to lie or diffemble, as to lose his Being. Let God be true (faith the Apostle) but every man a liar, Rom. iii. 4. Though we believe not, yet God abideth faithful, he cannot deny himself, 2 Tim. ii. 13. For God cannot be deceived himself, because he is infinite in Knowledge and Wifdom. And he will not deceive those that truft in him, because he is Faithful and Omnipotent, able to do whatever he hath spoken, and will never fail to perform his Word. But all his Words are agreeable to his Intentions, and his Dealings are anfwerable to his Words.

AND firft, God is faithful and fincere in his Offers of Grace and Glory. What he commandeth us to do, he seriously willeth and defireth us to do, and offereth us Grace neceffary to do it. And to whom God offereth his Grace, he really intendeth to grant it, if they are not backward to receive it. And to whom he offereth Salvation, on Condition of Faith and Obedience, to those

he