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Show LXXXVIII. An Objeflion takJn from Gods mercy in the Go[pel, an[wered. some ' to defend the contrary opinion, allege the very great lenity of God in the new Covenant, which is therefore to be imitated by men, even Magillrats too, as the Vicars of God. This we yield in fome fort true , but not fo far as they would extend 1t~ For , the great mercy of God manife!led in the new Covenant Al!t.. I7· 36. e(pecially regardeth fins aoainft the Pri: ~~~;.:;J: mitive Law, or alia commi~tedagainftthe La. w of Mo{e.r , before the knowledac of the Gofpd was received. For , thetJ fins t Hc:b. 2.. ::.3. committed after, efpeciaUy if accompa- 4.M· 10 1 • 2.9. nied with contumacy,havea tommination ,.,.a tt: :1.8. .~ . u , o f J.U dg mem f:a .r more 1r evere t , rhan that Chryfoll:omus whi~h wa3 ordained by Mo[n . Nor only idem dicit tum in the life to come but in this life too 1p.(l oratio 6 nde ad doth God often fh~w his wrath ae:ainG atrem e- fi h a: ._, lcm, tum fe- uc onenc.es , I (or. I 1. .30. And par· (Unda de jeju- don ~f thefe crimes is n~t ufually obtaind, nio. unlets man himfe.lf do as it were exaCt t Pe~catorante puniiliment of himfelf t, I Cor. I r. 3· by ven,am dtflere . . r d m· n: f fe debet. Ter- a .certain gnevous 1orrow an a lvLillg.o rull. de p.mir. bts foul, 2 Cor. 2. 27. The fame obJe• Ambr. in Pfal. Ctors uroe, that at lea!l to the penitent is F· Chryfofr. to be g~anted impunity. But, to omit, m2.S .1 ·ACdodr.eh o:rm., . th at men ca.? ha r dl y b e cerram. wh e n re· Cor. 7, 9, & penrance is hncere; and , that every one 10. wvuld fcape unpunilhed, if it were [~ffi-ctent 'The fecond part. cient in any manner to make p repentance; God himfelf doth not al-ways remit all punifhment to the peni-tent, as appears even by 7Javids example. Wherefore , as God might remit the pe-nalty of the Law, that is, violent or other-wife immature death , and yet infliCt no fmall evils upon the offender : [o now al- Hieronym. in f0 may he 1·emit the puni£hment of eter- c.I.inNaum. nal death, and in the mean time, either Aguh. 1• ,..ex h1. m1r e lf pun·u tLn t he rn. nner wt. t l1 t. mmature PSlyantcofn. ee. p. 14• death, or be willing he fhould be fo pu-nilhed by the magi!lrat. LXXXIX. ~nother ob jeflion anfwerd, about precijion ofrepentar. ce. A. Gain, others find fault, that tooether with life , fpace of repenta~ce i~ allo cut ofl. But thefe men are not jo. norant, that pious Magifhats have gre~t care hereof, and appoint not any one to to be executed , without fome time allowed, wherein he may acknowledge hit fins , and ferioufly detefl them. Which kind of repentance*, though works, inter .. • Hieronym.ad .eluded by death , follow not , may be ac- ~a~af.cit. cepted by God,as is proved by the exam- m c.Imp.ortuna ple of ~he Thief crucified with Chrilt. If ~fl~~~r. 1t be fa1d, a longer life might be profitable to a more fe rious repentance and amend-ment; it may be anfwer'd,Men are found fometimes fuch , to whom that of Sene-cat |
