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A65814 A discourse upon I Peter IV., VIII wherein the power and efficacy of charity as it is a means to procure the pardon of sin is explained and vindicated / by John Whitefoot. Whitefoote, John, 1610-1699. 1695 (1695) Wing W1862; ESTC R26478 56,458 143

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Question from a double Interpretation which is given of those words the end of all things is at hand the one relating to this Life the other to that which is to come 1. Some Modern Interpreters of Good Note for their Learning and Judgement Dr. Hammond Mr. Jos Mede and others do understand those words not to be meant of the end of the World or the day of Judgement but of the end of the Jewish Common-wealth by the Destruction of the Temple and the City of Jerusalem together with the General Calamity of that People by their Captivity and Dispersion throughout the World by the Power and Victory of the Romans often foretold by our Saviour and called the abomination of desolation For the avoiding of which Calamity the Apostle adviseth the Christian Jews to whom he directs this Epistle to be sober and to watch unto prayer as hopefull means to save them from the extremity of that Calamity Adding further in this verse another special Point of advice to the same end to wit the exercise of a fervent Charity If this sense of the Apostles words be allowed supposing the end of all things so near approaching as was the time of that Publick Calamity which sense by the forementioned Interpreters is also applied to many other Texts of our Saviours and the Apostles speaking of the end of the World as very near I say if this be the Apostles Sense in this place no doubt can be made of this effect of Charity procuring Deliverance from Punishments of sin in this Life On the other side If by the end of all things must be understood that General End which is to come at the day of Judgement according to the more ordinary Interpretation of the words it is evident that this benefit of Charity will extend to another Life But because the Punishment of sin as hath been said before is both in this Life and that which is to come without Determining the true Sense of the foregoing Verse I doubt not to conclude that the Remission of sin expressed by the covering thereof declared by the Apostle is not to be limited to this or the other Life but may be understood of both and will be verified either in both or at least in one of these two Lives that is wheresoever this Vertue of Charity is found it will be available by the Mercy of God at least to some kind of Remission of sin i. e. of the Punishment thereof either in this Life and that which is to come too or else in one of them more or less according to the sincerity and degree of the Charity If the Charity be the Fruit of an unfained Faith accompanied with Repentance as it must needs be if it be sincere it will undoubtedly be available to the Remission of sin in the other World if not also to the Remission of Punishment in this World which is very hopefull though not so certain in all Respects as is the Remission of future Punishment in the Life to come Because there are some sorts of Punishments of sin in this Life which as was shewed before are in themselves necessary and inseparable Consequents of the sin and so unavoidable in their Nature as Shame and Dishonour in sins known to the World privation of Benefits consequent to other sins sorrow and remorse of Conscience common to all sins whereof a sinner is convinced Besides some other sorts of Punishments in this Life not so necessary in their kind may be consequent to the sin by the Justice and Wisdom and also by the Goodness of God which therefore he may refuse to remit in this Life where he intends a full Remission in the Life to come This is plain in the Case of David 2 Sam. 12. Many severe Punishments are threatned by Nathan the Prophet to be executed upon David for his scandalous sins of Adultery and Murder which were never remitted but punctually executed upon him notwithstanding that upon his Repentance testified by his humble Confession the Prophet assures him that God had put away his sin and that he should not die Ver. 13. And David said unto Nathan I have sinned against the Lord and Nathan said unto David the Lord also hath put away thy sin thou shalt not die His repentance expressed by extraordinary testimonies of his Sorrow and Humiliation set forth in that Psalm Psal 51. which was penn'd and published by himself for that end was not sufficient to deliver him from all Punishment of his sin although it was accepted for his Deliverance not only from the punishment of eternal Death but also of such a temporal Death as he was justly lyable to by the Law which though it could not be executed upon him by any Human Authority by reason of his Soveraignty yet might have been executed by the Hand of God who had threatned by Himself to revenge and punish such presumptuous sins as the Magistrate could not or should neglect to punish Lev. 26.14 But did not thereby deprive himself of liberty to forbear such Execution of punishment according to his Wisdom and Goodness By this Example and several others that might be alledged if it were needfull in this place it appears that a Part of the punishment of sin may be remitted where the whole is not which I take to be the common Case of Mankind fallen under the guilt and punishment of Adams sin for it is experimentally evident Gen. 3. that the whole Punishment is not remitted to any Man because all are known to suffer many Penalties threatned in this Life besides that common one of Temporal Death whilst that of Eternal Death is remitted to many and promised to all that repent But to return to the Point in hand I say sincere Charity proceeding from a true Faith and accompanied with an unfeigned Repentance will certainly deliver the Charitable Person from the Everlasting punishment of another Life and may also be available either to save a man from all Punishments in this Life or to abate the Degrees of them But if the Charity be not fincere nor accompanied with any such Repentance as will render the sinner capable of Salvation in the other Life yet it may be and doubtless will be available for the Deliverance of the person from Punishments in this Life either in whole or in part For as other temporal Rewards are given by God to partial and infincere Vertues and good Works so may this of Deliverance from temporal Judgments And this perhaps was sometimes the only meaning of those words of our Saviour recorded in the Gospel to have been spoken to divers Persons that came to him to be healed of their bodily Diseases expressing thereby some kind of Faith in him and his Power And he said unto them thy sins are forgiven thee i. e. the Punishment of thy sins which lies upon thee is taken off and remitted Mark 3.34 cap. 10.52 Luke 7.50 cap. 8.48 cap. 18.42 and thou shalt be