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It concerns us therefore to pra&tife this Duty, because this peaceable reconciling Frame of Mind, is the very Condition of our Pardon from God.

In the Lord's-Prayer, (which is a Pattern and Direction for our Prayers, as well as a Form ;) we are thus directed to Pray; Forgive us our Trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. Forgive as we forgive. Which is thus explained and confirmed by our Bleffed Saviour. For if ye forgive men their Trefpaffes, your heavenly Father will alfo forgive you. But if ye forgive not men their Trefpaffes, neither will your Father forgive your Trefpaffes. Matth. 6. 14, 15.

And this is yet further illuftrated in the Parable of the Wicked Servant, (Matth. 18.) Who owed his Lord a Debt of Ten Thoufand Talents: And being not folvent, a Judgment and Execu

tion was iffued out against him. Forafmuch as he had not to pay, his Lord commanded him (according to the Jewish Custom) to be fold, and his Wife and Children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. v. 25. Upon this, the Servant very fubmiffively begs his forbearance, promifing in fome competent time to pay him All.

And his Lord was fo moved with Compaflion, that he very freely forgave him the whole Debt.w

But he finding one of his fellow-Servants who ow'd him One hundred Pence; though he fell at his Feet and befought him, yet he would not hear him, but fhook him by the Throat, and caft him into Prifon.

Then his Lord was wroth, (was much moved at the Uncharitableness of this hard-hearted Wretch) and faid, O thou wicked

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Servant! fhouldst not thou have bad Compaffion on thy Fellow-fervant, even as I had pity on thee? And he delivered him to the Tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. v. 34.

Obferve here in this Parable the fad Fate of an implacable Temper, and what fuch Wretches are to expect.:

To thofe who are of that Number, the Application of this Parable is dreadful. So likewife (faith our Saviour) fhall my beavenly Father do alfo unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their Trefpaffes. v. 35.

So likewife, &c. How is it that he fhall do unto you? The foregoing Verse informs you. He delivered him to the Tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. And then presently adds: So likewise shall my beavenly Father do unto you. That

is, If ye from your hearts forgive not every one his Brother their Trefpaffes, my heavenly Father will deliver you to the Tormentors, till you shall pay all that is due unto

him.

A most dismal astonishing Sentence. And it concerns all revengeful Persons most seriously to confider it.

And, First, Who are thefe Tormentors, to whom they fhall be Delivered?

Now thefe, as the Scripture informs us, are the Devil and his Angels; those malicious, implacable, revengeful Spirits. And how dismal and astonishing it is, to be delivered over to fuch Hellish Tormentors, is beyond words to exprefs.

But, Secondly, for how long time thall his Heavenly Father deliver the Revengeful to these Tormentors? 'Tis, till they fhall pay all that is due unto him. But

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when

when fhall that be? When fhall Infinite Juftice be fatisfied? When fhall an Infinite Debt be paid by a Finite Creature? And here 'tis plain, fince there is no Proportion betwixt Finite and Infinite, it can never be. When they are fo Miferable, as to be thrown into that Infernal Prison, they shall by no means come out thence, till they have paid the uttermoft Farthing. That is, Never...

Thus he fhall have Judgment without Mercy, who fheweth no Mercy. Jam. 2. 13. With what Meafure ye mete to others, it fhall he measured to you again, Matth. 7. 2. If we forgive, God will forgive us. If we fhew Mercy, we fhall obtain Mercy..

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