himself. Such fear would have no existence in the case of the saints if the opinion as to their sins not being about to be revealed were assumed to be true. Furthermore Paul says, that he, and such as he, would be manifested not only so far as they have acted well on the whole, but also so far as they have failed in any particular. There is wonderful variety of rewards among those, wTho are saved ; and demerits [of saints] have effect, though not indeed in relation to punishment [which the saints wholly escape] but to loss, as opposed to reward, 1 Cor. iii. 14, 15 : comp. 2 Cor. i. 14 ; Phil. ii. 16, iv. 1. That phrase, that every one may receive , etc., shows, that the deficiencies in the case of the righteous will be also manifested. For thus and thus only will it be manifested, why each man receives neither more nor less than the reward, which he actually receives. The Lord will render to every one, as his work shall be.
§ 4. Wherefore we ought not to press too far the words quoted in § 1. The sins of the elect, which are past, will not cease to be the objects of the Divine Omniscience for ever, although without any offence and upbraiding. And this one considera- tion is of more importance, than the manifestation of their sins before all creatures, though it were to continue for ever, much less as it is, in the day of judgment alone, when their sins will appear not as committed, but as retracted and blotted out in con- sequence of repentance.
§ 5. In the case of the elect themselves, their own sins will not cease to be the object of their remembrance, although with- out any uneasiness attending it. He, to whom much has been forgiven, loves much. The everlasting remembrance of a great debt, which has been forgiven, will be the fuel of the strongest love.
§ 6. So great is the efficacy of the Divine word with men in this life, that it separates the soul from the Spirit, Heb. iv. 12, and lays bare the secrets of the heart, 1 Cor. xiv. 25. Shame for what has been committed and remitted belongs to the soul , not the spirit. Men wallowing in gross sins often throw out their secrets ; in despair they conceal nothing. But grace, much more powerful, renders those, who have received it, quite ingenuous. Men truly penitent proceed with the utmost readi- ness to the most open confessions of their secret wickedness,