第12章

CHAPTERXIV TheMysteriesofChrist’sMediatorialWork(48-49)andJustification(50-55) 48。Thatonesin，however，committedinasettingofsuchgreathappiness，wasitselfsogreatthatbyit，inoneman，thewholehumanracewasoriginallyand，sotosay，radicallycondemned。Itcannotbepardonedandwashedawayexceptthrough”theonemediatorbetweenGodandmen，themanChristJesus，”[92] whoalonecouldbeborninsuchawayasnottoneedtobereborn。 49。Theywerenotreborn，thosewhowerebaptizedbyJohn’sbaptism，bywhichChristhimselfwasbaptized。[93]Rather，theywere_prepared_bytheministryofthisforerunner，whosaid，”PrepareawayfortheLord，”[94]forHiminwhomalonetheycouldbereborn。 Forhisbaptismisnotwithwateralone，asJohn’swas，butwiththeHolySpiritaswell。Thus，whoeverbelievesinChristisrebornbythatsameSpirit，ofwhomChristalsowasborn，needingnottobereborn。ThisisthereasonfortheVoiceoftheFatherspokenoverhimathisbaptism，”TodayhaveIbegottenthee，”[95] whichpointednottothatparticulardayonwhichhewasbaptized，buttothat”day”ofchangelesseternity，inordertoshowusthatthisManbelongedtothepersonalUnityoftheOnlyBegotten。Foradaythatneitherbeginswiththecloseofyesterdaynorendswiththebeginningoftomorrowisindeedaneternal”today。” Therefore，hechosetobebaptizedinwaterbyJohn，nottherebytowashawayanysinofhisown，buttomanifesthisgreathumility。Indeed，baptismfoundnothinginhimtowashaway，justasdeathfoundnothingtopunish。Hence，itwasinauthenticjustice，andnotbyviolentpower，thatthedevilwasovercomeandconquered:for，ashehadmostunjustlyslainHimwhowasinnowaydeservingofdeath，healsodidmostjustlylosethosewhomhehadjustlyheldinbondageaspunishmentfortheirsins。 Wherefore，Hetookuponhimselfbothbaptismanddeath，notoutofapiteousnecessitybutthroughhisownfreeactofshowingmercy——aspartofadefiniteplanwherebyOnemighttakeawaythesinoftheworld，justasonemanhadbroughtsinintotheworld，thatis，thewholehumanrace。 50。Thereisadifference，however。Thefirstmanbroughtsinintotheworld，whereasthisOnetookawaynotonlythatonesinbutalsoalltheotherswhichhefoundaddedtoit。Hence，theapostlesays，”Andthegift[ofgrace]isnotliketheeffectoftheonethatsinned:forthejudgmentonthatonetrespasswascondemnation；butthegiftofgraceisformanyoffenses，andbringsjustification。”[96]Nowitisclearthattheonesinoriginallyinherited，evenifitweretheonlyoneinvolved，makesmenliabletocondemnation。Yetgracejustifiesamanformanyoffenses，boththesinwhichheoriginallyinheritedincommonwithalltheothersandalsothemultitudeofsinswhichhehascommittedonhisown。 51。However，whenhe[theapostle]says，shortlyafter，”Therefore，astheoffenseofonemanledallmentocondemnation，soalsotherighteousnessofonemanleadsallmentothelifeofjustification，”[97]heindicatessufficientlythateveryonebornofAdamissubjecttodamnation，andnoone，unlessrebornofChrist，isfreefromsuchadamnation。 52。AndafterthisdiscussionofpunishmentthroughonemanandgracethroughtheOther，ashedeemedsufficientforthatpartoftheepistle，theapostlepassesontospeakofthegreatmysteryofholybaptisminthecrossofChrist，andtodothissothatwemayunderstandnothingotherinthebaptismofChristthanthelikenessofthedeathofChrist。ThedeathofChristcrucifiedisnothingotherthanthelikenessoftheforgivenessofsins——sothatintheverysamesenseinwhichthedeathisreal，soalsoistheforgivenessofoursinsreal，andinthesamesenseinwhichhisresurrectionisreal，soalsoinusisthereauthenticjustification。 Heasks:”What，then，shallwesay？Shallwecontinueinsin，thatgracemayabound？”[98]——forhehadpreviouslysaid，”Butwheresinabounded，gracedidmuchmoreabound。”[99]Andthereforehehimselfraisedthequestionwhether，becauseoftheabundanceofgracethatfollowssin，oneshouldthencontinueinsin。Butheanswers，”Godforbid！”andadds，”Howshallwe，whoaredeadtosin，liveanylongertherein？”[100]Then，toshowthatwearedeadtosin，”DoyounotknowthatallwewhowerebaptizedinChristJesuswerebaptizedintohisdeath？”[101] If，therefore，thefactthatwearebaptizedintothedeathofChristshowsthatwearedeadtosin，thencertainlyinfantswhoarebaptizedinChristdietosin，sincetheyarebaptizedintohisowndeath。Forthereisnoexceptioninthesaying，”AllwewhoarebaptizedintoChristJesusarebaptizedintohisdeath。”Andtheeffectofthisistoshowthatwearedeadtosin。 Yetwhatsindoinfantsdietoinbeingrebornexceptthatwhichtheyinheritinbeingborn？Whatfollowsintheepistlealsopertainstothis:”Thereforewewereburiedwithhimbybaptismintodeath；that，asChristwasraisedupfromthedeadbythegloryoftheFather，evensowealsoshouldwalkinthenewnessoflife。Forifwehavebeenunitedwithhiminthelikenessofhisdeath，weshallbealsounitedwithhiminthelikenessofhisresurrection，knowingthis，thatouroldmaniscrucifiedwithhim，thatthebodyofsinmightbedestroyed，thathenceforthweshouldnotservesin。Forhethatisdeadisfreedfromsin。NowifwearedeadwithChrist，webelievethatweshallalsolivewithhim:knowingthatChrist，beingraisedfromthedead，diesnomore；deathhasnomoredominionoverhim。Forthedeathhedied，hediedtosin，onceforall；butthelifehelives，helivesuntoGod。Soalso，reckonyourselvesalsotobedeadtosin，butaliveuntoGodthroughChristJesus。”[102] Now，hehadsetouttoprovethatweshouldnotgoonsinning，inorderthattherebygracemightabound，andhadsaid，”Ifwehavediedtosin，how，then，shallwegoonlivinginit？” Andthentoshowthatweweredeadtosin，hehadadded，”Knowyounot，thatasmanyofusaswerebaptizedintoJesusChristwerebaptizedintohisdeath？”Thusheconcludesthepassageashebeganit。Indeed，heintroducedthedeathofChristinordertosaythatevenhediedtosin。Towhatsin，savethatofthefleshinwhichheexisted，notassinner，butin”thelikenessofsin” andwhichwas，therefore，calledbythenameofsin？Thus，tothosebaptizedintothedeathofChrist——intowhichnotonlyadultsbutinfantsaswellarebaptized——hesays，”Soalsoyoushouldreckonyourselvestobedeadtosin，butalivetoGodinChristJesus。” 53。Whateverwasdone，therefore，inthecrucifixionofChrist，hisburial，hisresurrectiononthethirdday，hisascensionintoheaven，hisbeingseatedattheFather’srighthand——allthesethingsweredonethus，thattheymightnotonlysignifytheirmysticalmeaningsbutalsoserveasamodelfortheChristianlifewhichweleadhereontheearth。Thus，ofhiscrucifixionitwassaid，”AndtheythatareJesusChrist’shavecrucifiedtheirownflesh，withthepassionsandluststhereof”[103]；andofhisburial，”ForweareburiedwithChristbybaptismintodeath”；ofhisresurrection，”SinceChristisraisedfromthedeadthroughthegloryoftheFather，sowealsoshouldwalkwithhiminnewnessoflife”；ofhisascensionandsessionattheFather’srighthand:”ButifyouhaverisenagainwithChrist，seekthethingswhichareabove，whereChristissittingattherighthandofGod。Setyouraffectiononthingsabove，notonthingsontheearth。Foryouaredead，andyourlifeishidwithChristinGod。”[104] 54。NowwhatwebelieveconcerningChrist’sfutureactions，sinceweconfessthathewillcomeagainfromheaventojudgethelivingandthedead，doesnotpertaintothislifeofoursasweliveithereonearth，becauseitbelongsnottohisdeedsalreadydone，buttowhathewilldoatthecloseoftheage。Tothistheapostlerefersandgoesontoadd，”WhenChrist，whoisyourlife，shallappear，youshallthenalsoappearwithhiminglory。”[105] 55。Therearetwowaystointerprettheaffirmationthathe”shalljudgethelivingandthedead。”Ontheonehand，wemayunderstandby”theliving”thosewhoarenotyetdeadbutwhowillbefoundlivinginthefleshwhenhecomes；andwemayunderstandby”thedead”thosewhohaveleftthebody，orwhoshallhaveleftitbeforehiscoming。Or，ontheotherhand，”theliving”maysignify”therighteous，”and”thedead”maysignify”theunrighteous”——sincetherighteousaretobejudgedaswellastheunrighteous。ForsometimesthejudgmentofGodispassedupontheevil，asintheword，”Buttheywhohavedoneevil[shallcomeforth]totheresurrectionofjudgment。”[106]Andsometimesitispasseduponthegood，asintheword，”Saveme，OGod，bythyname，andjudgemeinthystrength。”[107]Indeed，itisbythejudgmentofGodthatthedistinctionbetweengoodandevilismade，totheendthat，beingfreedfromevilandnotdestroyedwiththeevildoers，thegoodmaybesetapartathisrighthand。[108]Thisiswhythepsalmistcried，”Judgeme，OGod，” and，asiftoexplainwhathehadsaid，”anddefendmycauseagainstanunholynation。”[109] CHAPTERXV TheHolySpirit(56)andtheChurch(57-60) 56。Now，whenwehavespokenofJesusChrist，theonlySonofGodourLord，inthebrevitybefittingourconfessionoffaith，wegoontoaffirmthatwebelievealsointheHolySpirit，ascompletingtheTrinitywhichisGod；andafterthatwecalltomindourfaith”inholyChurch。”BythiswearegiventounderstandthattherationalcreationbelongingtothefreeJerusalemoughttobementionedinasubordinateordertotheCreator，thatis，thesupremeTrinity。For，ofcourse，allthathasbeensaidaboutthemanChristJesusreferstotheunityofthePersonoftheOnlyBegotten。 Thus，therightorderoftheCreeddemanded[110]thattheChurchbemadesubordinatetotheTrinity，asahouseissubordinatetohimwhodwellsinit，thetempletoGod，andthecitytoitsfounder。BytheChurchherewearetounderstandthewholeChurch，notjustthepartthatjourneyshereonearthfromrisingofthesuntoitssetting，praisingthenameoftheLord[111]andsinginganewsongofdeliverancefromitsoldcaptivity，butalsothatpartwhich，inheaven，hasalways，fromcreation，heldfasttoGod，andwhichneverexperiencedtheevilsofafall。Thispart，composedoftheholyangels，remainsinblessedness，anditgiveshelp，evenasitought，totheotherpartstillonpilgrimage。Forbothpartstogetherwillmakeoneeternalconsort，asevennowtheyareoneinthebondoflove—— thewholeinstitutedfortheproperworshipoftheoneGod。[112] Wherefore，neitherthewholeChurchnoranypartofitwishestobeworshipedasGodnortobeGodtoanyonebelongingtothetempleofGod——thetemplethatisbeingbuiltupof”thegods” whomtheuncreatedGodcreated。[113]Consequently，iftheHolySpiritwerecreatureandnotCreator，hewouldobviouslybearationalcreature，forthisisthehighestofthelevelsofcreation。Butinthiscasehewouldnotbesetintheruleoffaith_before_theChurch，sincehewouldthenbelong_to_theChurch，inthatpartofitwhichisinheaven。Hewouldnothaveatemple，forhehimselfwouldbeatemple。Yet，infact，hehathatempleofwhichtheapostlespeaks，”KnowyounotthatyourbodyisthetempleoftheHolySpirit，whoisinyou，whomyouhavefromGod？”[114]Inanotherplace，hesaysofthisbody，”KnowyounotthatyourbodiesaremembersofChrist？”[115]How，then，ishenotGodwhohasatemple？OrhowcanhebelessthanChristwhosemembersarehistemple？ItisnotthathehasonetempleandGodanothertemple，sincethesameapostlesays:”KnowyounotthatyouarethetempleofGod，”andthen，asiftoprovehispoint，added，”andthattheSpiritofGoddwellethinyou？” Godthereforedwellethinhistemple，nottheHolySpiritonly，butalsoFatherandSon，whosaithofhisbody——inwhichhestandethasHeadoftheChurchonearth”thatinallthingshemaybepre-eminent”[116]——”DestroythistempleandinthreedaysIwillraiseitupagain。”[117]Therefore，thetempleofGod—— thatis，ofthesupremeTrinityasawhole——isholyChurch，theUniversalChurchinheavenandontheearth。 57。ButwhatcanweaffirmaboutthatpartoftheChurchinheaven，savethatinitnoevilistobefound，noranyapostates，norwilltherebeagain，sincethattimewhen”Goddidnotsparethesinningangels”——astheapostlePeterwrites——”butcastingthemout，hedeliveredthemintotheprisonsofdarknessinhell，tobereservedforthesentenceintheDayofJudgment”[118]？ 58。Still，howislifeorderedinthatmostblessedandsupernalsociety？Whatdifferencesarethereinrankamongtheangels，sothatwhileallarecalledbythegeneraltitle”angels”—— aswereadintheEpistletotheHebrews，”Buttowhichoftheangelssaidheatanytime，’Sitatmyrighthand’？”[119]；thisexpressionclearlysignifiesthatallareangelswithoutexception——yettherearearchangelsthereaswell？Again，shouldthesearchangelsbecalled”powers”[virtutes]，sothattheverse，”Praisehimallhisangels；praisehim，allhispowers，”[120] wouldmeanthesamethingas，”Praisehim，allhisangels；praisehim，allhisarchangels”？Or，whatdistinctionsareimpliedbythefourdesignationsbywhichtheapostleseemstoencompasstheentireheavenlysociety，”Betheythronesordominions，principalities，orpowers”[121]？Letthemanswerthesequestionswhocan，iftheycanindeedprovetheiranswers。Formyself，I confesstoignoranceofsuchmatters。Iamnotevencertainaboutanotherquestion:whetherthesunandmoonandallthestarsbelongtothatsameheavenlysociety——althoughtheyseemtobenothingmorethanluminousbodies，withneitherperceptionnorunderstanding。 59。Furthermore，whocanexplainthekindofbodiesinwhichtheangelsappearedtomen，sothattheywerenotonlyvisible，buttangibleaswell？And，again，howdothey，notbyimpactofphysicalstimulusbutbyspiritualforce，bringcertainvisions，nottothephysicaleyesbuttothespiritualeyesofthemind，orspeaksomething，nottotheears，asfromoutsideus，butactuallyfromwithinthehumansoul，sincetheyarepresentwithinittoo？ For，asitiswritteninthebookoftheProphets:”Andtheangelthatspokeinme，saidtome……”[122]Hedoesnotsay，”Spoke_to_me”but”Spoke_in_me。”Howdotheyappeartomeninsleep，andcommunicatethroughdreams，aswereadintheGospel:”Behold，theangeloftheLordappearedtohiminhissleep，saying……”[123]？Bythesevariousmodesofpresentation，theangelsseemtoindicatethattheydonothavetangiblebodies。 Yetthisraisesaverydifficultquestion:How，then，didthepatriarchswashtheangels’feet？[124]How，also，didJacobwrestlewiththeangelinsuchatangiblefashion？[125] Toasksuchquestionsasthese，andtoguessattheanswersasonecan，isnotauselessexerciseinspeculation，solongasthediscussionismoderateandoneavoidsthemistakeofthosewhothinktheyknowwhattheydonotknow。 CHAPTERXVI ProblemsAboutHeavenlyandEarthlyDivisionsoftheChurch60。ItismoreimportanttobeabletodiscernandtellwhenSatantransformshimselfasanangeloflight，lestbythisdeceptionheshouldseduceusintoharmfulacts。For，whenhedeceivesthecorporealsenses，anddoesnottherebyturnthemindfromthattrueandrightjudgmentbywhichoneleadsthelifeoffaith，thereisnodangertoreligion。Orif，feigninghimselftobegood，hedoesorsaysthingsthatwouldfitthecharacterofthegoodangels，evenifthenwebelievehimgood，theerrorisneitherdangerousnorfataltotheChristianfaith。Butwhen，bythesealienwiles，hebeginstoleadusintohisownways，thengreatvigilanceisrequiredtorecognizehimandnotfollowafter。 Buthowfewmenaretherewhoareabletoavoidhisdeadlystratagems，unlessGodguidesandpreservesthem！Yettheverydifficultyofthisbusinessisusefulinthisrespect:itshowsthatnomanshouldresthishopesinhimself，noronemaninanother，butallwhoareGod’sshouldcasttheirhopesonhim。 Andthatthislatterisobviouslythebestcourseforusnopiousmanwoulddeny。 61。ThispartoftheChurch，therefore，whichiscomposedoftheholyangelsandpowersofGodwillbecomeknowntousasitreallyisonlywhen，attheendoftheage，wearejoinedtoit，topossess，togetherwithit，eternalbliss。Buttheotherpartwhich，separatedfromthisheavenlycompany，wandersthroughtheearthisbetterknowntousbecauseweareinit，andbecauseitiscomposedofmenlikeourselves。ThisisthepartthathasbeenredeemedfromallsinbythebloodofthesinlessMediator，anditscryis:”IfGodbeforus，whoisagainstus？HethatsparednothisownSon，butdeliveredhimupforusall……”[126]NowChristdidnotdiefortheangels。Butstill，whatwasdoneformanbyhisdeathforman’sredemptionandhisdeliverancefromevilwasdonefortheangelsalso，becausebyittheenmitycausedbysinbetweenmenandtheangelsisremovedandfriendshiprestored。Moreover，thisredemptionofmankindservestorepairtheruinsleftbytheangelicapostasy。 62。Ofcourse，theholyangels，taughtbyGod——intheeternalcontemplationofwhosetruththeyareblessed——knowhowmanyofthehumanracearerequiredtofillupthefullcensusofthatcommonwealth。Thisiswhytheapostlesays”thatallthingsarerestoredtounityinChrist，boththoseinheavenandthoseontheearthinhim。”[127]Thepartinheavenisindeedrestoredwhenthenumberlostfromtheangelicapostasyarereplacedfromtheranksofmankind。Thepartonearthisrestoredwhenthosemenpredestinedtoeternallifeareredeemedfromtheoldstateofcorruption。 Thusbythesinglesacrifice，ofwhichthemanyvictimsofthelawwereonlyshadows，theheavenlypartissetatpeacewiththeearthlypartandtheearthlyreconciledtotheheavenly。 Wherefore，asthesameapostlesays:”ForitpleasedGodthatallplenitudeofbeingshoulddwellinhimandbyhimtoreconcileallthingstohimself，makingpeacewiththembythebloodofhiscross，whetherthosethingsonearthorthoseinheaven。”[128] 63。Thispeace，asitiswritten，”passesallunderstanding。”Itcannotbeknownbyusuntilwehaveenteredintoit。Forhowistheheavenlyrealmsetatpeace，savetogetherwithus；thatis，byconcordwithus？Forinthatrealmthereisalwayspeace，bothamongthewholecompanyofrationalcreaturesandbetweenthemandtheirCreator。Thisisthepeacethat，asitissaid，”passesallunderstanding。”Butobviouslythismeans_our_understanding，notthatofthosewhoalwaysseetheFather’sface。Fornomatterhowgreatourunderstandingmaybe，”weknowinpart，andweseeinaglassdarkly。”[129]Butwhenweshallhavebecome”equaltoGod’sangels，”[130]then，evenastheydo，”weshallseefacetoface。”[131]Andweshallthenhaveasgreatamitytowardthemastheyhavetowardus；forweshallcometolovethemasmuchaswearelovedbythem。 Inthiswaytheirpeacewillbecomeknowntous，sinceourswillbeliketheirsinkindandmeasure——norwillitthensurpassourunderstanding。ButthepeaceofGod，whichisthere，willstilldoubtlesssurpassourunderstandingandtheirsaswell。 For，ofcourse，insofarasarationalcreatureisblessed，thisblessednesscomes，notfromhimself，butfromGod。Hence，itfollowsthatitisbettertointerpretthepassage，”ThepeaceofGodwhichpassesallunderstanding，”sothatfromtheword”all” noteventheunderstandingoftheholyangelsshouldbeexcepted。 OnlyGod’sunderstandingisexcepted；for，ofcourse，hispeacedoesnotsurpasshisownunderstanding。 CHAPTERXVII ForgivenessofSinsintheChurch64。Theangelsareinconcordwithusevennow，whenoursinsareforgiven。Therefore，intheorderoftheCreed，afterthereferenceto”holyChurch”isplacedthereferenceto”forgivenessofsins。”ForitisbythisthatthepartoftheChurchonearthstands；itisbythisthat”whatwaslostandisfoundagain”[132]isnotlostagain。Ofcourse，thegiftofbaptismisanexception。Itisanantidotegivenusagainstoriginalsin，sothatwhatiscontractedbybirthisremovedbythenewbirth——thoughitalsotakesawayactualsinsaswell，whetherofheart，word，ordeed。Butexceptforthisgreatremission——thebeginningpointofaman’srenewal，inwhichallguilt，inheritedandacquired，iswashedaway——therestoflife，fromtheageofaccountability(andnomatterhowvigorouslyweprogressinrighteousness)，isnotwithouttheneedfortheforgivenessofsins。ThisisthecasebecausethesonsofGod，aslongastheylivethismortallife，areinaconflictwithdeath。 Andalthoughitistrulysaidofthem，”AsmanyasareledbytheSpiritofGod，theyarethesonsofGod，”[133]yetevenastheyarebeingledbytheSpiritofGodand，assonsofGod，advancetowardGod，theyarealsobeingledbytheirownspiritssothat，weigheddownbythecorruptiblebodyandinfluencedbycertainhumanfeelings，theythusfallawayfromthemselvesandcommitsin。Butitmatters_howmuch_。Althougheverycrimeisasin，noteverysinisacrime。Thuswecansayofthelifeofholymenevenwhiletheyliveinthismortality，thattheyarefoundwithoutcrime。”Butifwesaythatwehavenosin，”asthegreatapostlesays，”wedeceiveevenourselves，andthetruthisnotinus。”[134] 65。Nevertheless，nomatterhowgreatourcrimes，theirforgivenessshouldneverbedespairedofinholyChurchforthosewhotrulyrepent，eachaccordingtothemeasureofhissin。And，intheactofrepentance，[135]whereacrimehasbeencommittedofsuchgravityasalsotocutoffthesinnerfromthebodyofChrist，weshouldnotconsiderthemeasureoftimeasmuchasthemeasureofsorrow。For，”acontriteandhumbledheartGodwillnotdespise。”[136] Still，sincethesorrowofoneheartismostlyhidfromanother，anddoesnotcometonoticethroughwordsandothersuchsigns——evenwhenitisplaintoHimofwhomitissaid，”Mygroaningisnothidfromthee”[137]——timesofrepentancehavebeenrightlyestablishedbythosesetoverthechurches，thatsatisfactionmayalsobemadeintheChurch，inwhichthesinsareforgiven。For，ofcourse，outsidehertheyarenotforgiven。ForshealonehasreceivedthepledgeoftheHolySpirit，[138]withoutwhomthereisnoforgivenessofsins。Thoseforgiventhusobtainlifeeverlasting。 66。Nowtheremissionofsinshaschieflytodowiththefuturejudgment。InthislifetheScripturesayingholdstrue:”A heavyyokeisonthesonsofAdam，fromthedaytheycomeforthfromtheirmother’swombtillthedayoftheirburialinthemotherofusall。”[139]Thusweseeeveninfants，afterthewashingofregeneration，torturedbydiversevilafflictions。 Thishelpsustounderstandthatthewholeimportofthesacramentsofsalvationhastodomorewiththehopeoffuturegoodsthanwiththeretainingorattainingofpresentgoods。 Indeed，manysinsseemtobeignoredandgounpunished；buttheirpunishmentisreservedforthefuture。ItisnotinvainthatthedaywhentheJudgeofthelivingandthedeadshallcomeisrightlycalledtheDayofJudgment。Justso，ontheotherhand，somesinsarepunishedhere，and，iftheyareforgiven，willcertainlybringnoharmuponusinthefutureage。Hence，referringtocertaintemporalpunishments，whicharevisiteduponsinnersinthislife，theapostle，speakingtothosewhosesinsareblottedoutandnotreservedtotheend，says:”ForifwejudgeourselvestrulyweshouldnotbejudgedbytheLord。Butwhenwearejudged，wearechastisedbytheLord，thatwemaynotbecondemnedalongwiththisworld。”[140] CHAPTERXVIII[141] FaithandWorks67。Therearesome，indeed，whobelievethatthosewhodonotabandonthenameofChrist，andwhoarebaptizedinhislaverintheChurch，whoarenotcutofffromitbyschismorheresy，whomaythenliveinsinshowevergreat，notwashingthemawaybyrepentance，norredeemingthembyalms——andwhoobstinatelypersevereinthemtolife’slastday——eventhesewillstillbesaved，”thoughasbyfire。”Theybelievethatsuchpeoplewillbepunishedbyfire，prolongedinproportiontotheirsins，butstillnoteternal。 Butthosewhobelievethus，andstillareCatholics，aredeceived，asitseemstome，byakindofmerelyhumanbenevolence。ForthedivineScripture，whenconsulted，answersdifferently。Moreover，Ihavewrittenabookaboutthisquestion，entitledFaithandWorks，[142]inwhich，withGod’shelp，IhaveshownasbestIcouldthat，accordingtoHolyScripture，thefaiththatsavesisthefaiththattheapostlePauladequatelydescribeswhenhesays，”ForinChristJesusneithercircumcisionavailsanything，noruncircumcision，butthefaithwhichworksthroughlove。”[143]Butiffaithworksevilandnotgood，thenwithoutdoubt，accordingtotheapostleJames”itisdeadinitself。”[144] Hethengoesontosay，”Ifamansayshehasfaith，yethasnotworks，canhisfaithbeenoughtosavehim？”[145] Now，ifthewickedmanweretobesavedbyfireonaccountofhisfaithonly，andifthisisthewaythestatementoftheblessedPaulshouldbeunderstood——”Buthehimselfshallbesaved，yetsoasbyfire”[146]——thenfaithwithoutworkswouldbesufficienttosalvation。ButthenwhattheapostleJamessaidwouldbefalse。AndalsofalsewouldbeanotherstatementofthesamePaulhimself:”Donoterr，”hesays；”neitherfornicators，noridolaters，noradulterers，northeunmanly，norhomosexuals，northieves，northecovetous，nordrunkards，norrevilers，norextortioners，shallinherittheKingdomofGod。”[147]Now，ifthosewhopersistinsuchcrimesastheseareneverthelesssavedbytheirfaithinChrist，wouldtheynotthenbeintheKingdomofGod？ 68。But，sincethesefullyplainandmostpertinentapostolictestimoniescannotbefalse，thatoneobscuresayingaboutthosewhobuildon”thefoundation，whichisChrist，notgold，silver，andpreciousstones，butwood，hay，andstubble”[148]——foritisabouttheseitissaidthattheywillbesavedasbyfire，notperishingonaccountofthesavingworthoftheirfoundation——suchastatementmustbeinterpretedsothatitdoesnotcontradictthesefullyplaintestimonies。 Infact，woodandhayandstubblemaybeunderstood，withoutabsurdity，tosignifysuchanattachmenttothoseworldlythings——albeitlegitimateinthemselves——thatonecannotsuffertheirlosswithoutanguishinthesoul。Now，whensuchanguish”burns，” andChriststillholdshisplaceasfoundationintheheart—— thatis，ifnothingispreferredtohimandifthemanwhoseanguish”burns”wouldstillprefertosufferlossofthethingshegreatlylovesthantoloseChrist——thenoneissaved，”byfire。” Butif，intimeoftesting，heshouldprefertoholdontothesetemporalandworldlygoodsratherthantoChrist，hedoesnothavehimasfoundation——becausehehasput”things”inthefirstplace——whereasinabuildingnothingcomesbeforethefoundations。 Now，thisfire，ofwhichtheapostlespeaks，shouldbeunderstoodasonethroughwhichbothkindsofmenmustpass:thatis，themanwhobuildswithgold，silver，andpreciousstonesonthisfoundationandalsothemanwhobuildswithwood，hay，andstubble。For，whenhehadspokenofthis，headded:”Thefireshalltryeveryman’swork，ofwhatsortitis。Ifanyman’sworkabideswhichhehasbuiltthereupon，heshallreceiveareward。 Ifanyman’sworkburnsup，heshallsufferloss；buthehimselfshallbesaved，yetsoasbyfire。”[149]Thereforethefirewilltestthework，notonlyoftheone，butofboth。 Thefireisasortoftrialofaffliction，concerningwhichitisclearlywrittenelsewhere:”Thefurnacetriesthepotter’svesselsandthetrialofafflictiontestsrighteousmen。”[150] Thiskindoffireworksinthespanofthislife，justastheapostlesaid，asitaffectsthetwodifferentkindsoffaithfulmen。Thereis，forexample，themanwho”thinksofthethingsofGod，howhemaypleaseGod。”SuchamanbuildsonChristthefoundation，withgold，silver，andpreciousstones。Theotherman”thinksaboutthethingsoftheworld，howhemaypleasehiswife”[151]；thatis，hebuildsuponthesamefoundationwithwood，hay，andstubble。Theworkoftheformerisnotburnedup，sincehehasnotlovedthosethingswhoselossbringsanguish。Buttheworkofthelatterisburnedup，sincethingsarenotlostwithoutanguishwhentheyhavebeenlovedwithapossessivelove。Butbecause，inthissecondsituation，hepreferstosufferthelossofthesethingsratherthanlosingChrist，anddoesnotdesertChristfromfearoflosingsuchthings——eventhoughhemaygrieveoverhisloss——”heissaved，”indeed，”yetsoasbyfire。”He”burns”withgrief，forthethingshehaslovedandlost，butthisdoesnotsubvertnorconsumehim，securedasheisbythestabilityandtheindestructibilityofhisfoundation。 69。Itisnotincrediblethatsomethinglikethisshouldoccurafterthislife，whetherornotitisamatterforfruitfulinquiry。Itmaybediscoveredorremainhiddenwhethersomeofthefaithfularesoonerorlatertobesavedbyasortofpurgatorialfire，inproportionastheyhavelovedthegoodsthatperish，andinproportiontotheirattachmenttothem。However，thisdoesnotapplytothoseofwhomitwassaid，”TheyshallnotpossesstheKingdomofGod，”[152]unlesstheircrimesareremittedthroughduerepentance。Isay”duerepentance”tosignifythattheymustnotbebarrenofalmsgiving，onwhichdivineScripturelayssomuchstressthatourLordtellsusinadvancethat，onthebarebasisoffruitfulnessinalms，hewillimputemerittothoseonhisrighthand；and，onthesamebasisofunfruitfulness，demerittothoseonhisleft——whenheshallsaytotheformer，”Come，blessedofmyFather，receivetheKingdom，”buttothelatter，”Departintoeverlastingfire。”[153] CHAPTERXIX AlmsgivingandForgiveness70。Wemustbeware，however，lestanyonesupposethatunspeakablecrimessuchastheycommitwho”willnotpossesstheKingdomofGod”canbeperpetrateddailyandthendailyredeemedbyalmsgiving。Ofcourse，lifemustbechangedforthebetter，andalmsshouldbeofferedaspropitiationtoGodforourpastsins。Butheisnotsomehowtobeboughtoff，asifwealwayshadalicensetocommitcrimeswithimpunity。For，”hehasgivennomanalicensetosin”[154]——although，inhismercy，hedoesblotoutsinsalreadycommitted，ifduesatisfactionforthemisnotneglected。 71。Forthepassingandtrivialsinsofeveryday，fromwhichnolifeisfree，theeverydayprayerofthefaithfulmakessatisfaction。Fortheycansay，”OurFatherwhoartinheaven，” whohavealreadybeenreborntosuchaFather”bywaterandtheSpirit。”[155]Thisprayercompletelyblotsoutourminorandeverydaysins。Italsoblotsoutthosesinswhichoncemadethelifeofthefaithfulwicked，butfromwhich，nowthattheyhavechangedforthebetterbyrepentance，theyhavedeparted。Theconditionofthisisthatjustastheytrulysay，”Forgiveusourdebts”(sincethereisnolackofdebtstobeforgiven)，soalsotheytrulysay，”Asweforgiveourdebtors”[156]；thatis，ifwhatissaidisalsodone。Fortoforgiveamanwhoseeksforgivenessisindeedtogivealms。 72。Accordingly，whatourLordsays——”Givealmsand，behold，allthingsarecleantoyou”[157]——appliestoallusefulactsofmercy。Therefore，notonlythemanwhogivesfoodtothehungry，drinktothethirsty，clothingtothenaked，hospitalitytothewayfarer，refugetothefugitive；whovisitsthesickandtheprisoner，redeemsthecaptive，bearstheburdensoftheweak，leadstheblind，comfortsthesorrowful，healsthesick，showstheerranttherightway，givesadvicetotheperplexed，anddoeswhateverisneedfulfortheneedy[158]——notonlydoesthismangivealms，butthemanwhoforgivesthetrespasseralsogivesalmsaswell。Heisalsoagiverofalmswho，byblowsorotherdiscipline，correctsandrestrainsthoseunderhiscommand，ifatthesametimeheforgivesfromtheheartthesinbywhichhehasbeenwrongedoroffended，orpraysthatitbeforgiventheoffender。Suchamangivesalms，notonlyinthatheforgivesandprays，butalsointhatherebukesandadministerscorrectivepunishment，sinceinthisheshowsmercy。 Now，manybenefitsarebestowedontheunwilling，whentheirinterestsandnottheirpreferencesareconsulted。Andmenfrequentlyarefoundtobetheirownenemies，whilethosetheysupposetobetheirenemiesaretheirtruefriends。Andthen，bymistake，theyreturnevilforgood，whenaChristianoughtnottoreturnevilevenforevil。Thus，therearemanykindsofalms，bywhich，whenwedothem，wearehelpedinobtainingforgivenessofourownsins。 73。Butnoneofthesealmsisgreaterthantheforgivenessfromtheheartofasincommittedagainstusbysomeoneelse。Itisasmallerthingtowishwelloreventodowelltoonewhohasdoneyounoevil。Itisfargreater——asortofmagnificentgoodness——toloveyourenemy，andalwaystowishhimwelland，asyoucan，_do_welltohimwhowishesyouillandwhodoesyouharmwhenhecan。ThusoneheedsGod’scommand:”Loveyourenemies，dogoodtothemthathateyou，andprayforthemthatpersecuteyou。”[159] SuchcounselsarefortheperfectsonsofGod。AndalthoughallthefaithfulshouldstrivetowardthemandthroughprayertoGodandearnestendeavorbringtheirsoulsuptothislevel，stillsohighadegreeofgoodnessisnotpossibleforsogreatamultitudeaswebelieveareheardwhen，inprayer，theysay，”Forgiveusourdebts，asweforgiveourdebtors。”Accordingly，itcannotbedoubtedthatthetermsofthispledgearefulfilledifaman，notyetsoperfectthathealreadyloveshisenemies，stillforgivesfromtheheartonewhohassinnedagainsthimandwhonowaskshisforgiveness。Forhesurelyseeksforgivenesswhenheasksforitwhenheprays，saying，”Asweforgiveourdebtors。” Forthismeans，”Forgiveusourdebtswhenweaskforforgiveness，aswealsoforgiveourdebtorswhentheyaskforforgiveness。” 74。Again，ifoneseeksforgivenessfromamanagainstwhomhesinned——movedbyhissintoseekit——heshouldnolongerberegardedasanenemy，anditshouldnotnowbeasdifficulttolovehimasitwaswhenhewasactivelyhostile。 Now，amanwhodoesnotforgivefromtheheartonewhoasksforgivenessandisrepentantofhissinscaninnowaysupposethathisownsinsareforgivenbytheLord，sincetheTruthcannotlie，andwhathearerandreaderofthegospelhasnotnotedwhoitwaswhosaid，”IamtheTruth”[160]？Itis，ofcourse，theOnewho，whenhewasteachingtheprayer，stronglyemphasizedthissentencewhichheputinit，saying:”Forifyouforgivementheirtrespasses，yourHeavenlyFatherwillalsoforgiveyouyourtrespasses。Butifyouwillnotforgivemen，neitherwillyourFatherforgiveyouyouroffenses。”[161]Hewhoisnotawakenedbysuchgreatthunderingisnotasleep，butdead。Andyetsuchawordhaspowertoawakeneventhedead。 CHAPTERXX SpiritualAlmsgiving75。Now，surely，thosewholiveingrosswickednessandtakenocaretocorrecttheirlivesandhabits，whoyet，amidtheircrimesandmisdeeds，continuetomultiplytheiralms，flatterthemselvesinvainwiththeLord’swords，”Givealms；and，behold，allthingsarecleantoyou。”Theydonotunderstandhowfarthissayingreaches。Inorderforthemtounderstand，letthemnoticetowhomitwasthathesaidit。ForthisisthecontextofitintheGospel:”Ashewasspeaking，acertainPhariseeaskedhimtodinewithhim。Andhewentinandreclinedatthetable。AndthePhariseebegantowonderandaskhimselfwhyHehadnotwashedhimselfbeforedinner。ButtheLordsaidtohim:’NowyouPhariseescleantheoutsideofthecupandthedish，butwithinyouarestillfullofextortionandwickedness。Foolishones！ DidnotHewhomadetheoutsidemaketheinsidetoo？ Nevertheless，giveforalmswhatremainswithin；and，behold，allthingsarecleantoyou。’”[162]ShouldweinterpretthistomeanthattothePharisees，whohadnotthefaithofChrist，allthingsarecleanifonlytheygivealms，astheydeemitrighttogivethem，eveniftheyhavenotbelievedinhim，norbeenrebornofwaterandtheSpirit？ButallareuncleanwhoarenotmadecleanbythefaithofChrist，ofwhomitiswritten，”Cleansingtheirheartsbyfaith。”[163]Andastheapostlesaid，”Buttothemthatareuncleanandunbelievingnothingisclean；boththeirmindsandconsciencesareunclean。”[164]How，then，shouldallthingsbecleantothePharisees，eveniftheygavealms，butwerenotbelievers？Or，howcouldtheybebelievers，iftheywereunwillingtobelieveinChristandtobebornagaininhisgrace？ Andyet，whattheyheardistrue:”Givealms；andbehold，allthingsarecleantoyou。” 76。Hewhowouldgivealmsasasetplanofhislifeshouldbeginwithhimselfandgivethemtohimself。Foralmsgivingisaworkofmercy，andthesayingismosttrue:”Havemercyuponyourownsoul，pleasingGod。”[165]ThepurposeofthenewbirthisthatweshouldbecomepleasingtoGod，whoisjustlydispleasedwiththesinwecontractedinbirth。Thisisthefirstalmsgiving，whichwegivetoourselves——whenthroughthemercyofamercifulGodwecometoinquireaboutourwretchednessandcometoacknowledgethejustverdictbywhichwewereputinneedofthatmercy，ofwhichtheapostlesays，”Judgmentcamebythatonetrespasstocondemnation。”[166]Andthesameheraldofgracethenadds(inawordofthanksgivingforGod’sgreatlove)，”ButGodcommendethhislovetowardusinthat，whilewewereyetsinners，Christdiedforus。”[167]Thus，whenwecometoavalidestimateofourwretchednessandbegintoloveGodwiththelovehehimselfgivethus，wethenbegintolivepiouslyandrighteously。 ButthePharisees，whiletheygaveasalmsatithingofeventheleastoftheirfruits，disregardedthis”judgmentandloveofGod。”Therefore，theydidnotbegintheiralmsgivingwiththemselves，nordidthey，firstofall，showmercytowardthemselves。Inreferencetothisrightorderofself-love，itwassaid，”Youshallloveyourneighborasyourself。”[168] Therefore，whentheLordhadreprovedthePhariseesforwashingthemselvesontheoutsidewhileinwardlytheywerestillfullofextortionandwickedness，hethenadmonishedthemalsotogivethosealmswhichamanowesfirsttohimself——tomakecleantheinnerman:”However，”hesaid，”givewhatremainsasalms，and，behold，allthingsarecleantoyou。”Then，tomakeplaintheimportofhisadmonition，whichtheyhadignored，andtoshowthemthathewasnotignorantoftheirkindofalmsgiving，headds，”Butwoetoyou，Pharisees”[169]——asiftosay，”Iamadvisingyoutogivethekindofalmswhichshallmakeallthingscleantoyou。””Butwoetoyou，foryoutithemintandrueandeveryherb”——”IknowthesealmsofyoursandyouneednotthinkIamadmonishingyoutogivethemup”——”andthenneglectjusticeandtheloveofGod。””_This_kindofalmsgivingwouldmakeyoucleanfromallinwarddefilement，justasthebodieswhichyouwasharemadecleanbyyou。”Fortheword”all”heremeansboth”inward” and”outward”——aselsewhereweread，”Makecleantheinside，andtheoutsidewillbecomeclean。”[170] But，lestitappearthathewasrejectingthekindofalmswegiveoftheearth’sbounty，headds，”Thesethingsyoushoulddo”—— thatis，payheedtothejudgmentandloveofGod——and”notomittheothers”——thatis，almsdonewiththeearth’sbounty。 77。Therefore，letthemnotdeceivethemselveswhosupposethatbygivingalms——howeverprofusely，andwhetheroftheirfruitsormoneyoranythingelse——theypurchaseimpunitytocontinueintheenormityoftheircrimesandthegrossnessoftheirwickedness。Fornotonlydotheydosuchthings，buttheyalsolovethemsomuchthattheywouldalwayschoosetocontinueinthem——iftheycoulddosowithimpunity。”Buthewholovesiniquityhateshisownsoul。”[171]Andhewhohateshisownsoulisnotmercifulbutcrueltoit。Forbylovingitaftertheworld’swayhehatesitaccordingtoGod’swayofjudging。 Therefore，ifonereallywishedtogivealmstohimself，thatallthingsmightbecomecleantohim，hewouldhatehissoulaftertheworld’swayandloveitaccordingtoGod’sway。Noone，however，givesanyalmsatallunlesshegivesfromthestoreofHimwhoneedsnotanything。”Accordingly，”itissaid，”Hismercyshallgobeforeme。”[172] CHAPTERXXI ProblemsofCasuistry78。Whatsinsaretrivialandwhataregrave，however，isnotforhumanbutfordivinejudgmenttodetermine。Forweseethat，inrespectofsomesins，eventheapostle，bypardoningthem，hasconcededthispoint。SuchacaseisseeninwhatthevenerablePaulsaystomarriedfolks:”Donotdepriveoneanother，exceptbyconsentforatimetogiveyourselvestoprayer，andthenreturntogetherlestSatantemptyouatthepointofself- control。”[173]Onecouldconsiderthatitisnotasinforamarriedcoupletohaveintercourse，notonlyforthesakeofprocreatingchildren——whichisthegoodofmarriage——butalsoforthesakeofthecarnalpleasureinvolved。Thus，thosewhoseself-controlisweakcouldavoidfornication，oradultery，andotherkindsofimpuritytooshamefultoname，intowhichtheirlustmightdragthemthroughSatan’stempting。Thereforeonecould，asIsaid，considerthisnotasin，hadtheapostlenotadded，”ButIsaythisasaconcession，notasarule。”Who，then，deniesthatitisasinwhenheagreesthatapostolicauthorityfordoingitisgivenonlyby”concession”？ Anothersuchcaseisseenwherehesays，”Dareanyofyou，havingacaseagainstanother，bringittobejudgedbeforetheunrighteousandnotthesaints？”[174]Andabitlater:”If，therefore，youhavecasesconcerningworldlythings，”hesays，”youappointthosewhoarecontemptibleintheChurch’seyes。I saythistoshameyou。Canitbethatthereisnotawisemanamongyou，whocouldjudgebetweenhisbrethren？Butbrothergoestolawwithbrother，andthatinthepresenceofunbelievers。”[175]Andhereitmightbethoughtthatitwasnotasintobringsuitagainstabrother，andthattheonlysinconsistedinwishingitjudgedoutsidetheChurch，iftheapostlehadnotaddedimmediately，”Nowthereforethewholefaultamongyouisthatyouhavelawsuitswithoneanother。”[176]Then，lestsomeoneexcusehimselfonthispointbysayingthathehadajustcauseandwassufferinginjusticewhichhewishedremovedbyjudicialsentence，theapostledirectlyresistssuchthoughtsandexcusesbysaying:”Whynotrathersufferiniquity？Whynotratherbedefrauded？”[177]ThuswearebroughtbacktothatsayingoftheLord:”Ifanyonewouldtakeyourtunicandcontendincourtwithyou，letgoyourcloakalso。”[178]Andinanotherplace:”Ifamantakesawayyourgoods，seekthemnotback。”[179] Thus，heforbidshisowntogotocourtwithothermeninsecularsuits。Anditisbecauseofthisteachingthattheapostlesaysthatthiskindofactionis”afault。”Still，whenheallowssuchsuitstobedecidedintheChurch，brothersjudgingbrothers，yetsternlyforbidssuchathingoutsidetheChurch，itisclearthatsomeconcessionisbeingmadeherefortheinfirmitiesoftheweak。 Becauseoftheseandsimilarsins——andofothersevenlessthanthese，suchasoffensesinwordsandthoughts——andbecause，astheapostleJamesconfesses，”wealloffendinmanythings，”[180]itbehoovesustopraytotheLorddailyandoften，andsay，”Forgiveusourdebts，”andnotlieaboutwhatfollowsthispetition，”Aswealsoforgiveourdebtors。” 79。Thereare，however，somesinsthatcouldbedeemedquitetriflingiftheScripturesdidnotshowthattheyaremoreseriousthanwethink。Forwhowouldsupposethatonesayingtohisbrother，”Youfool，”is”indangerofhell-fire，”iftheTruthhadnotsaidit？Still，forthehurtheimmediatelysuppliedamedicine，addingthepreceptofbrotherlyreconciliation:”If，therefore，youareofferingagiftatthealtar，andremembertherethatyourbrotherhassomethingagainstyou，”[181]etc。 Orwhowouldthinkhowgreatasinitistoobservedaysandmonthsandyearsandseasons——asthosepeopledowhowillorwillnotbeginprojectsoncertaindaysorincertainmonthsoryears，becausetheyfollowvainhumandoctrinesandsupposethatvariousseasonsareluckyorunlucky——ifwedidnotinferthemagnitudeofthisevilfromtheapostle’sfear，insayingtosuchmen，”Ifearforyou，lestperhapsIhavelaboredamongyouinvain”[182]？ 80。Tothisonemightaddthosesins，howevergraveandterrible，which，whentheycometobehabitual，arethenbelievedtobetrivialornosinsatall。Andsofardoesthisgothatsuchsinsarenotonlynotkeptsecret，butareevenproclaimedandpublishedabroad——casesofwhichitiswritten，”Thesinnerispraisedinthedesiresofhissoul；andhethatworksiniquityisblessed。”[183] Inthedivinebookssuchiniquityiscalleda”cry”(clamor)。 YouhavesuchausageintheprophetIsaiah’sreferencetotheevilvineyard:”Ilookedthatheshouldperformjustice，yethedidiniquity；notjusticebutacry。”[184]SoalsoisthatpassageinGenesis:”ThecryofSodomandGomorrahismultiplied，”[185]foramongthesepeoplesuchcrimeswerenotonlyunpunished，butwereopenlycommitted，asifsanctionedbylaw。 Soalsoinourtimessomanyevils，evenifnotlikethose[ofold]，havecometobepubliccustomsthatwenotonlydonotdareexcommunicatealayman；wedonotdaredegradeaclergymanforthem。Thus，severalyearsago，whenIwasexpoundingtheEpistletotheGalatians，wheretheapostlesays，”Ifearforyou，lestperchanceIhavelaboredinvainamongyou，”Iwasmovedtoexclaim:”Woetothesinsofmen！Weshrinkfromthemonlywhenwearenotaccustomedtothem。Asforthosesinstowhichweareaccustomed——althoughthebloodoftheSonofGodwasshedtowashthemaway——althoughtheyaresogreatthattheKingdomofGodiswhollyclosedtothem，yet，livingwiththemoftenwecometotoleratethem，and，toleratingthem，weevenpracticesomeofthem！Butgrant，OLord，thatwedonotpracticeanyofthemwhichwecouldprohibit！”Ishallsomedayknowwhetherimmoderateindignationmovedmeheretospeakrashly。 CHAPTERXXII TheTwoCausesofSin81。IshallnowmentionwhatIhaveoftendiscussedbeforeinotherplacesinmyshorttreatises。[186]Wesinfromtwocauses:eitherfromnotseeingwhatweoughttodo，orelsefromnotdoingwhatwehavealreadyseenweoughttodo。Ofthesetwo，thefirstisignoranceoftheevil；thesecond，weakness。 Wemustsurelyfightagainstboth；butweshallassurelybedefeatedunlesswearedivinelyhelped，notonlytoseewhatweoughttodo，butalso，assoundjudgmentincreases，tomakeourloveofrighteousnessvictoroverourloveofthosethingsbecauseofwhich——eitherbydesiringtopossessthemorbyfearingtolosethem——wefall，open-eyed，intoknownsin。Inthislattercase，wearenotonlysinners——whichweareevenwhenwesinthroughignorance——butalsolawbreakers:forwedonotdowhatweshould，andwedowhatweknowalreadyweshouldnot。 Accordingly，weshouldprayforpardonifwehavesinned，aswedowhenwesay，”Forgiveusourdebtsaswealsoforgiveourdebtors。”ButweshouldalsopraythatGodshouldguideusawayfromsin，andthiswedowhenwesay，”Leadusnotintotemptation”——andweshouldmakeourpetitionstoHimofwhomitissaidinthepsalm，”TheLordismylightandmysalvation”[187]；that，asLight，hemaytakeawayourignorance，asSalvation，ourweakness。 82。Now，penanceitselfisoftenomittedbecauseofweakness，evenwheninChurchcustomthereisanadequatereasonwhyitshouldbeperformed。Forshameisthefearofdispleasingmen，whenamanlovestheirgoodopinionmorethanheregardsjudgment，whichwouldmakehimhumblehimselfinpenitence。 Wherefore，notonlyforonetorepent，butalsoinorderthathemaybeenabledtodoso，themercyofGodisprerequisite。 Otherwise，theapostlewouldnotsayofsomemen，”IncaseGodgiveththemrepentance。”[188]And，similarly，thatPetermightbeenabledtoweepbitterly，theEvangelisttells，”TheLordlookedathim。”[189] 83。ButthemanwhodoesnotbelievethatsinsareforgivenintheChurch，whodespisessogreatabountyofthedivinegiftsandends，andpersiststohislastdayinsuchanobstinacyofmind——thatmanisguiltyoftheunpardonablesinagainsttheHolySpirit，inwhomChristforgivethsins。[190]Ihavediscussedthisdifficultquestion，asclearlyasIcould，inalittlebookdevotedexclusivelytothisverypoint。[191] CHAPTERXXIII TheRealityoftheResurrection84。Now，withrespecttotheresurrectionofthebody——andbythisIdonotmeanthecasesofresuscitationafterwhichpeoplediedagain，butaresurrectiontoeternallifeafterthefashionofChrist’sownbody——Ihavenotfoundawaytodiscussitbrieflyandstillgivesatisfactoryanswerstoallthequestionsusuallyraisedaboutit。YetnoChristianshouldhavetheslightestdoubtastothefactthatthebodiesofallmen，whetheralreadyoryettobeborn，whetherdeadorstilltodie，willberesurrected。 85。Oncethisfactisestablished，then，firstofall，comesthequestionaboutabortivefetuses，whichareindeed”born”inthemother’swomb，butareneversothattheycouldbe”reborn。” For，ifwesaythatthereisaresurrectionforthem，thenwecanagreethatatleastasmuchistrueoffetusesthatarefullyformed。But，withregardtoundevelopedfetuses，whowouldnotmorereadilythinkthattheyperish，likeseedsthatdidnotgerminate？[192] Butwho，then，woulddaretodeny——thoughhewouldnotdaretoaffirmiteither——thatintheresurrectiondaywhatislackingintheformsofthingswillbefilledout？Thus，theperfectionwhichtimewouldhaveaccomplishedwillnotbelacking，anymorethantheblemisheswroughtbytimewillstillbepresent。 Nature，then，willbecheatedofnothingaptandfittingwhichtime’spassagewouldhavebrought，norwillanythingremaindisfiguredbyanythingadverseandcontrarywhichtimehaswrought。Butwhatisnotyetawholewillbecomewhole，justaswhathasbeendisfiguredwillberestoredtoitsfullfigure。 86。Onthisscore，acorollaryquestionmaybemostcarefullydiscussedbythemostlearnedmen，andstillIdonotknowthatanymancananswerit，namely:Whendoesahumanbeingbegintoliveinthewomb？Istheresomeformofhiddenlife，notyetapparentinthemotionsofalivingthing？Todeny，forexample，thatthosefetuseseverlivedatallwhicharecutawaylimbbylimbandcastoutofthewombsofpregnantwomen，lestthemothersdiealsoifthefetuseswerelefttheredead，wouldseemmuchtoorash。But，inanycase，onceamanbeginstolive，itisthereafterpossibleforhimtodie。And，oncedead，wheresoeverdeathovertookhim，Icannotfindthebasisonwhichhewouldnothaveashareintheresurrectionofthedead。 87。Bythesametoken，theresurrectionisnottobedeniedinthecasesofmonsterswhicharebornandlive，eveniftheyquicklydie，norshouldwebelievethattheywillberaisedastheywere，butratherinanamendednatureandfreefromfaults。 Farbeitfromustosayofthatdouble-limbedmanrecentlybornintheOrient——aboutwhommostreliablebrethrenhavegiveneyewitnessreportsandthepresbyterJerome，ofholymemory，hasleftawrittenaccount[193]——farbeitfromus，Isay，tosupposethatattheresurrectiontherewillbeonedoubleman，andnotrathertwomen，astherewouldhavebeeniftheyhadactuallybeenborntwins。Soalsoinothercases，which，becauseofsomeexcessordefectorgrossdeformity，arecalledmonsters:attheresurrectiontheywillberestoredtothenormalhumanphysiognomy，sothateverysoulwillhaveitsownbodyandnottwobodiesjoinedtogether，eventhoughtheywerebornthisway。 Everysoulwillhave，asitsown，allthatisrequiredtocompleteawholehumanbody。 88。Moreover，withGod，theearthlysubstancefromwhichthefleshofmortalmanisproduceddoesnotperish。Instead，whetheritbedissolvedintodustorashes，ordispersedintovaporsandthewinds，orconvertedintothesubstanceofotherbodies(orevenbackintothebasicelementsthemselves)，orhasservedasfoodforbeastsorevenmenandbeenturnedintotheirflesh——inaninstantoftimethismatterreturnstothesoulthatfirstanimatedit，andthatcausedittobecomeaman，toliveandtogrow。 89。Thisearthlymatterwhichbecomesacorpseuponthesoul’sdeparturewillnot，attheresurrection，besorestoredthatthepartsintowhichitwasseparatedandwhichhavebecomepartsofotherthingsmustnecessarilyreturntothesamepartsofthebodyinwhichtheyweresituated——thoughtheydoreturntothebodyfromwhichtheywereseparated。Otherwise，tosupposethatthehairrecoverswhatfrequentclippingshavetakenoff，orthenailsgetbackwhattrimminghasparedoff，makesforawildandwhollyunbecomingimageinthemindsofthosewhospeculatethiswayandleadsthemthustodisbelieveintheresurrection。 Buttaketheexampleofastatuemadeoffusiblemetal:ifitweremeltedbyheatorpoundedintodust，orreducedtoashapelessmass，andanartistwishedtorestoreitagainfromthemassofthesamematerial，itwouldmakenodifferencetothewholenessoftherestoredstatuewhichpartofitwasremadeofwhatpartofthemetal，solongasthestatue，asrestored，hadbeengivenallthematerialofwhichitwasoriginallycomposed。Justso，God—— anartistwhoworksinmarvelousandmysteriousways——willrestoreourbodies，withmarvelousandmysteriouscelerity，outofthewholeofthematterofwhichitwasoriginallycomposed。Anditwillmakenodifference，intherestoration，whetherhairreturnstohairandnailstonails，orwhetherthepartofthisoriginalmatterthathadperishedisturnedbackintofleshandrestoredtootherpartsofthebody。Themainthingisthattheprovidenceofthe[divine]Artisttakescarethatnothingunbecomingwillresult。 90。Nordoesitfollowthatthestatureofeachpersonwillbedifferentwhenbroughttolifeanewbecausethereweredifferencesinstaturewhenfirstalive，northattheleanwillberaisedleanorthefatcomebacktolifeintheirformerobesity。 ButifthisisintheCreator’splan，thateachshallretainhisspecialfeaturesandtheproperandrecognizablelikenessofhisformerself——whileanequalityofphysicalendowmentwillbepreserved——thenthematterofwhicheachresurrectionbodyiscomposedwillbesodisposedthatnoneshallbelost，andanydefectwillbesuppliedbyHimwhocancreateoutofnothingashewills。 Butifinthebodiesofthoserisingagainthereistobeanintelligibleinequality，suchasbetweenvoicesthatfilloutachorus，thiswillbemanagedbydisposingthematterofeachbodysotobringmenintotheirplaceintheangelicbandandimposenothingontheirsensesthatisinharmonious。Forsurelynothingunseemlywillbethere，andwhateveristherewillbefitting，andthisbecausetheunfittingwillsimplynotbe。 91。Thebodiesofthesaints，then，shallriseagainfreefromblemishanddeformity，justastheywillbealsofreefromcorruption，encumbrance，orhandicap。Theirfacility[facilitas] willbeascompleteastheirfelicity[felicitas]。Thisiswhytheirbodiesarecalled”spiritual，”thoughundoubtedlytheywillbebodiesandnotspirits。Forjustasnowthebodyiscalled”animate”[animale]，thoughitisabodyandnota”spirit” [anima]，sothenitwillbea”spiritualbody，”butstillabodyandnotaspirit。 Accordingly，then，asfarasthecorruptionwhichweighsdownthesoulandthevicesthroughwhich”thefleshlustsagainstthespirit”[194]areconcerned，therewillbeno”flesh，”butonlybody，sincetherearebodiesthatarecalled”heavenlybodies。”[195]Thisiswhyitissaid，”FleshandbloodshallnotinherittheKingdomofGod，”andthen，asiftoexpoundwhatwassaid，itadds，”Neithershallcorruptioninheritincorruption。”[196]Whatthewriterfirstcalled”fleshandblood”helatercalled”corruption，”andwhathefirstcalled”theKingdomofGod”hethenlatercalled”incorruption。” But，asfarasthesubstanceoftheresurrectionbodyisconcerned，itwilleventhenstillbe”flesh。”ThisiswhythebodyofChristiscalled”flesh”evenaftertheresurrection。 Whereforetheapostlealsosays，”Whatissownanaturalbody[corpusanimale]risesasaspiritualbody[corpusspirituale]。”[197]Fortherewillthenbesuchaconcordbetweenfleshandspirit——thespiritquickeningtheservantfleshwithoutanyneedofsustenancetherefrom——thattherewillbenofurtherconflictwithinourselves。Andjustastherewillbenomoreexternalenemiestobearwith，soneithershallwehavetobearwithourselvesasenemieswithin。 92。Butwhoeverarenotliberatedfromthatmassofperdition(broughttopassthroughthefirstman)bytheoneMediatorbetweenGodandman，theywillalsoriseagain，eachinhisownflesh，butonlythattheymaybepunishedtogetherwiththedevilandhisangels。Whetherthesemenwillriseagainwithalltheirfaultsanddeformities，withtheirdiseasedanddeformedmembers——isthereanyreasonforustolaborsuchaquestion？ Forobviouslytheuncertaintyabouttheirbodilyformandbeautyneednotwearyus，sincetheirdamnationiscertainandeternal。 Andletusnotbemovedtoinquirehowtheirbodycanbeincorruptibleifitcansuffer——orcorruptibleifitcannotdie。 Forthereisnotruelifeunlessitbelivedinhappiness；notrueincorruptibilitysavewherehealthisunscathedbypain。Butwhereanunhappybeingisnotallowedtodie，thendeathitself，sotosay，diesnot；andwherepainperpetuallyafflictsbutneverdestroys，corruptiongoesonendlessly。Thisstateiscalled，intheScripture，”theseconddeath。”[198] 93。Yetneitherthefirstdeath，inwhichthesouliscompelledtoleaveitsbody，northeseconddeath，inwhichitisnotallowedtoleavethebodyundergoingpunishment，wouldhavebefallenmanifnoonehadsinned。Surely，thelightestofallpunishmentswillbelaidonthosewhohaveaddednofurthersintothatoriginallycontracted。Amongtherest，whohaveaddedfurtherSinstothatone，theywillsufferadamnationsomewhatmoretolerableinproportiontothelesserdegreeoftheiriniquity。 CHAPTERXXIV TheSolutiontoPresentSpiritualEnigmastoBeAwaitedintheLifeoftheWorldToCome94。Andthusitwillbethatwhilethereprobatedangelsandmengoonintheireternalpunishment，thesaintswillgoonlearningmorefullytheblessingswhichgracehasbestoweduponthem。Then，throughtheactualrealitiesoftheirexperience，theywillseemoreclearlythemeaningofwhatiswritteninThePsalms:”Iwillsingtotheeofmercyandjudgment，OLord”[199]—— sincenooneissetfreesavebyunmeritedmercyandnooneisdamnedsavebyameritedcondemnation。 95。Thenwhatisnowhiddenwillnotbehidden:whenoneoftwoinfantsistakenupbyGod’smercyandtheotherabandonedthroughGod’sjudgment——andwhenthechosenoneknowswhatwouldhavebeenhisjustdesertsinjudgment——whywastheonechosenratherthantheother，whentheconditionofthetwowasthesame？ Oragain，whyweremiraclesnotwroughtinthepresenceofcertainpeoplewhowouldhaverepentedinthefaceofmiraculousworks，whilemiracleswerewroughtinthepresenceofthosewhowerenotabouttobelieve。ForourLordsaithmostplainly:”Woetoyou，Chorazin；woetoyou，Bethsaida。ForifinTyreandSidonhadbeenwroughtthemiraclesdoneinyourmidst，theywouldhaverepentedlongagoinsackclothandashes。”[200]Now，obviously，Goddidnotactunjustlyinnotwillingtheirsalvation，eventhoughtheycouldhavebeensaved，ifhewilleditso。[201] Then，intheclearestlightofwisdom，willbeseenwhatnowthepiousholdbyfaith，notyetgraspingitinclearunderstanding——howcertain，immutable，andeffectualisthewillofGod，howtherearethingshecandobutdothnotwilltodo，yetwillethnothinghecannotdo，andhowtrueiswhatissunginthepsalm:”ButourGodisaboveinheaven；inheavenandonearthhehathdoneallthingswhatsoeverthathewould。”[202]Thisobviouslyisnottrue，ifthereisanythingthathewilledtodoanddidnotdo，or，whatwereworse，ifhedidnotdosomethingbecauseman’swillpreventedhim，theOmnipotent，fromdoingwhathewilled。Nothing，therefore，happensunlesstheOmnipotentwillsittohappen。Heeitherallowsittohappenorheactuallycausesittohappen。 96。NorshouldwedoubtthatGoddothwell，evenwhenheallowethwhateverhappensilltohappen。Forheallowethitonlythroughajustjudgment——andsurelyallthatisjustisgood。 Therefore，althoughevil，insofarasitisevil，isnotgood，stillitisagoodthingthatnotonlygoodthingsexistbutevilaswell。Forifitwerenotgoodthatevilthingsexist，theywouldcertainlynotbeallowedtoexistbytheOmnipotentGood，forwhomitisundoubtedlyaseasynottoallowtoexistwhathedoesnotwill，asitisforhimtodowhathedoeswill。 Unlesswebelievethis，theverybeginningofourConfessionofFaithisimperiled——thesentenceinwhichweprofesstobelieveinGodtheFatherAlmighty。ForheiscalledAlmightyfornootherreasonthanthathecandowhatsoeverhewillethandbecausetheefficacyofhisomnipotentwillisnotimpededbythewillofanycreature。 97。Accordingly，wemustnowinquireaboutthemeaningofwhatwassaidmosttrulybytheapostleconcerningGod，”Whowilleththatallmenshouldbesaved。”[203]Forsincenotall—— notevenamajority——_are_saved，itwouldindeedappearthatthefactthatwhatGodwillethtohappendoesnothappenisduetoanembargoonGod’swillbythehumanwill。 Now，whenweaskforthereasonwhynotallaresaved，thecustomaryansweris:”Becausetheythemselveshavenotwilledit。” Butthiscannotbesaidofinfants，whohavenotyetcometothepowerofwillingornotwilling。For，ifwecouldattributetotheirwillstheinfantsquirmingstheymakeatbaptism，whentheyresistashardastheycan，wewouldthenhavetosaythattheyweresavedagainsttheirwill。ButtheLord’slanguageisclearerwhen，intheGospel，hereproveththeunrighteouscity:”Howoften，”hesaith，”wouldIhavegatheredyourchildrentogether，asahengathersherchicks，andyouwouldnot。”[204]ThissoundsasifGod’swillhadbeenovercomebyhumanwillsandasiftheweakest，bynotwilling，impededtheMostPowerfulsothathecouldnotdowhathewilled。Andwhereisthatomnipotencebywhich”whatsoeverhewilledinheavenandonearth，hehasdone，” ifhewilledtogatherthechildrenofJerusalemtogether，anddidnotdoso？Or，isitnotratherthecasethat，althoughJerusalemdidnotwillthatherchildrenbegatheredtogetherbyhim，yet，despiteherunwillingness，Goddidindeedgathertogetherthosechildrenofherswhomhewould？Itisnotthat”inheavenandonearth”hehathwilledanddonesomethings，andwilledotherthingsandnotdonethem。Instead，”allthingswhatsoeverhewilled，hehathdone。” CHAPTERXXV PredestinationandtheJusticeofGod98。Furthermore，whowouldbesoimpiouslyfoolishastosaythatGodcannotturntheevilwillsofmen——ashewilleth，whenhewilleth，andwherehewilleth——towardthegood？But，whenheacteth，heacteththroughmercy；whenhedothnotact，itisthroughjustice。For，”hehathmercyonwhomhewilleth；andwhomhewilleth，hehardeneth。”[205] Nowwhentheapostlesaidthis，hewascommendinggrace，ofwhichhehadjustspokeninconnectionwiththetwinchildreninRebecca’swomb:”Beforetheyhadyetbeenborn，orhaddoneanythinggoodorbad，inorderthattheelectingpurposeofGodmightcontinue——notthroughworksbutthroughthedivinecalling——itwassaidofthem，’Theeldershallservetheyounger。’”[206]Accordingly，hereferstoanotherpropheticwitness，whereitiswritten，”JacobIloved，butEsauhaveIhated。”[207]Then，realizinghowwhathesaidcoulddisturbthosewhoseunderstandingcouldnotpenetratetothisdepthofgrace，headds:”Whatthereforeshallwesaytothis？IsthereunrighteousnessinGod？ Godforbid！”[208]Yetitdoesseemunfairthat，withoutanymeritderivedfromgoodworksorbad，Godshouldlovetheoneandhatetheother。Now，iftheapostlehadwishedustounderstandthattherewerefuturegooddeedsoftheone，andevildeedsoftheother——whichGod，ofcourse，foreknew——hewouldneverhavesaid”notofgoodworks”butrather”of_future_works。”Thushewouldhavesolvedthedifficulty；or，rather，hewouldhaveleftnodifficultytobesolved。Asitis，however，whenhewentontoexclaim，”Godforbid！”——thatis，”GodforbidthatthereshouldbeunfairnessinGod”——heproceedsimmediatelytoadd(toprovethatnounfairnessinGodisinvolvedhere)，”ForhesaystoMoses，’IwillhavemercyonwhomIwillhavemercy，andIwillshowpitytowhomIwillshowpity。’”[209]Now，whobutafoolwouldthinkGodunfaireitherwhenheimposespenaljudgmentonthedeservingorwhenheshowsmercytotheundeserving？Finally，theapostleconcludesandsays，”Therefore，itisnotaquestionofhimwhowillsnorofhimwhorunsbutofGod’sshowingmercy。”[210] Thus，boththetwinswere”bynaturechildrenofwrath，”[211] notbecauseofanyworksoftheirown，butbecausetheywerebothboundinthefettersofdamnationoriginallyforgedbyAdam。ButHewhosaid，”IwillhavemercyonwhomIwillhavemercy，”lovedJacobinunmeritedmercy，yethatedEsauwithmeritedjustice。 Sincethisjudgment[ofwrath]wasduethemboth，theformerlearnedfromwhathappenedtotheotherthatthefactthathehadnot，withequalmerit，incurredthesamepenaltygavehimnogroundtoboastofhisowndistinctivemerits——but，instead，thatheshouldgloryintheabundanceofdivinegrace，because”itisnotaquestionofhimwhowillsnorofhimwhoruns，butofGod’sshowingmercy。”[212]And，indeed，thewholevisageofScriptureand，ifImayspeakso，thelineamentsofitscountenance，arefoundtoexhibitamystery，mostprofoundandsalutary，toadmonishallwhocarefullylookthereupon”thathewhoglories，shouldgloryintheLord。”[213] 99。Now，aftertheapostlehadcommendedGod’smercyinsaying，”Sothen，thereisnoquestionofhimwhowillsnorofhimwhoruns，butofGod’sshowingmercy，”nextinorderheintendstospeakalsoofhisjudgment——forwherehismercyisnotshown，itisnotunfairnessbutjustice。ForwithGodthereisnoinjustice。Thus，heimmediatelyadded，”FortheScripturesaystoPharaoh，’ForthisverypurposeIraisedyouup，thatImayshowthroughyoumypower，andthatmynamemaybeproclaimedinalltheearth。”[214]Then，havingsaidthis，hedrawsaconclusionthatlooksbothways，thatis，towardmercyandtowardjudgment:”Therefore，”hesays，”hehathmercyonwhomhewilleth，andwhomhewillethhehardeneth。”Heshowethmercyoutofhisgreatgoodness；hehardenethoutofnounfairnessatall。Inthisway，neitherdoeshewhoissavedhaveabasisforgloryinginanymeritofhisown；nordoesthemanwhoisdamnedhaveabasisforcomplainingofanythingexceptwhathehasfullymerited。Forgracealoneseparatestheredeemedfromthelost，allhavingbeenmingledtogetherintheonemassofperdition，arisingfromacommoncausewhichleadsbacktotheircommonorigin。Butifanymanhearsthisinsuchawayastosay:”Whythendoeshefindfault？Forwhoresistshiswill？”[215]——asiftomakeitseemthatmanshouldnotthereforebeblamedforbeingevil_because_ God”hathmercyonwhomhewillethandwhomhewillethhehardeneth”——Godforbidthatweshouldbeashamedtogivethesamereplyasweseetheapostlegiving:”Oman，whoareyoutoreplytoGod？Doesthemoldedobjectsaytothemolder，’Whyhaveyoumademelikethis？’Orisnotthepottermasterofhisclay，tomakefromthesamemassonevesselforhonorable，anotherforignoble，use？”[216] Therearesomestupidmenwhothinkthatinthispartoftheargumenttheapostlehadnoanswertogive；and，forlackofareasonablerejoinder，simplyrebukedtheaudacityofhisgainsayer。Butwhathesaid——”Oman，whoareyou？”——hasactuallygreatweightandinanargumentlikethisrecallsman，inasingleword，toconsiderthelimitsofhiscapacityand，atthesametime，suppliesanimportantexplanation。 Forifonedoesnotunderstandthesematters，whoishetotalkbacktoGod？Andifonedoesunderstand，hefindsnobettergroundeventhenfortalkingback。Forifheunderstands，heseesthatthewholehumanracewascondemnedinitsapostateheadbyadivinejudgmentsojustthatnotevenifasinglememberoftheracewereeversavedfromit，noonecouldrailagainstGod’sjustice。Andhealsoseesthatthosewhoaresavedhadtobesavedonsuchtermsthatitwouldshow——bycontrastwiththegreaternumberofthosenotsavedbutsimplyabandonedtotheirwhollyjustdamnation——whatthewholemassdeservedandtowhatendGod’smeritedjudgmentwouldhavebroughtthem，hadnothisundeservedmercyinterposed。Thuseverymouthofthosedisposedtogloryintheirownmeritsshouldbestopped，sothat”hethatgloriesmaygloryintheLord。”[217]