CHAPTER X. Pardoning Mercy Denied to the Fallen Angels
Soul by Christ, in the pardon of thy sin, it is an everlasting righteousness, and will abide everlastingly. Yet further, Heb. 10.14. it is said, That Christ by one offering, hath perfected forever them that are sanctified, that is, justified; Justification being called by the name of Sanctification, or them that are sanctified; that is, set apart to be made partakers of the great blessing of the new Covenant, to have a share in the blood of Christ for Justification; Christ by one offering has forever perfected them that are sanctified; therefore being perfected in Justification, there is no recalling this mercy back again.
Once more, this mercy is set out by the typical service of the ScapeGoat, Levite. 16.20. On whose head they were to put all the sins of the People, all their transgressions, and all their iniquities, and send him into the Wilderness, or Land of forgetfulness, amongst wild beasts, never to be looked after again; so are the sins of all Believers laid upon Christ, and carried into a Land of forgetfulness, and shall never come to be charged anymore: So much for that particular of the Irrevocableness of Pardon of Sin, which shows that blessed is that man or woman that hath their sins pardoned, because they shall never be recalled again.
Chapter X:
Pardoning Mercy Denied to the Fallen Angels Blessed is the man that hath his iniquities forgiven; for this is a mercy that God hath denied to the fallen Angels: God in pardoning thy sin, does more for thee than he would do for those thousand thousand millions of Angels; it is a mercy that God has denied to those millions of Angels that sinned against him: Suppose a poor wretched man be guilty of Treason against the King, and as he is, so a great part of the chief Nobility of the Land are guilty also, as well as he: But now when the King comes to look upon them, he sets his
heart on this poor man (that perhaps beg'd from door to door) and says this poor creature shall be forgiven; I will pass by his offense, and not only so, but advance him into high and great favor at the Court, and condemns all the Nobles: Now if this poor man shall see all the Noble men in chains, that were guilty but of one offense; and he perhaps hath been guilty for acting in a treasonable way 40, 50, or 70 years; and the Noble men guilty but for one offense; and this poor wretched creature sees these Noble men in chains, and knows that all they and everyone of them are condemned to suffer most dreadful tortures, to die a most dreadful torturing tormenting death: Now what a mighty aggravation is this of the mercy of the King, that shall pardon the offense of this poor creature; how will he stand amazed, admiring at the greatness of it; I that am guilty of the same offense, yea more guilty than they, and that I shall be pardoned, and the chief of the Nobility of the Kingdom must die a most torturing tormenting death, for their offense; what a difference hath the Kings favor made between me and them: certainly this is the case for all the world, with any poor soul whose sins are pardoned; God has done as much for thee, to the full; the Angels were the most glorious creatures that ever God made, and thou art but a poor worm in comparison of them; they sinned against him but once, and thou art guilty of millions of transgressions, and yet God sets his heart on thee, and says, I will do great things for thee, though I pass by thousands, millions of Angels; I will magnify my rich grace to this poor creature in pardoning his sin, and advance him to high favor, though I condemn them into everlasting chains of darkness; now when a poor creature comes to see the infinite riches of God's grace that hath made such a difference between him and the Angels: how will he stand admiring of it? me thinks this should mightily work upon the hearts of all poor sinners, and make them to say, What shall God pass by such excellent creatures as the Angels, the most excellent creatures that ever God made, and come to me a poor worm, to set his heart on me, and show mercy to me; Oh let me pass by all the excellencies of the creatures to perform my duty unto him; Hath God past by the most excellent of his creatures that mercy might come to me? Oh let me pass by all the glories and excellencies of anything in
this world, that my Soul may come in; in a way of duty and service unto him: Shall God leave the glorious Angels to show mercy to me, and to do good for me; and shall not I leave my base lusts for him?
Shall not I be content to leave anything to serve him? Shall I satisfy any base lust, with the neglect of him? God forbid. This is another
Argument, that they are blessed that have their sins pardoned, because God does that for them that he will not do for the fallen
Angels.