iniquity or this languishing condition in particular, the general sentence respecting the forgiveness of all sins which is pronounced immediately after regeneration; and in answer to his earnest supplication, restores the cheering light of his countenance. 4. When, in the very article of death, God assigns to the believer's departing spirit as the object of his generous friendship and love, a mansion of eternal felicity, of which he had, by his sins, rendered himself exceedingly unworthy.d 5. When, lastly, in the great day of final judgment, the forgiveness and grace which God, for Christ's sake, confers on his elect, will be openly proclaimed before an assembled universe, and gloriously manifested. Then what is promised in the book of Revelation shall be fully accomplished: "To him that overcometh will I give - a white stone, and in the stone a new name "written, which no man knoweth, saving he that re"ceiveth it." f 75 -66 xv. That FAITH which we profess to have as to the forgiveness of sins, comprises numerous and important mysteries regarding our salvation. First, We confess that we are chargeable not merely with one sin, but with many and highly aggravated sins. We confess also, that on account of our transgressions, God might justly cast us into the prison of hell, whence we should not be permitted to escape till we had paid the uttermost farthing. We acknowledge the righteousness of all those judgments which God inflicts upon us, to manifest his wrath, and his hatred of sin. We confess, in fine, that our salvation must not be sought in d Heb. ix. 27. f Rev. ii. 17. h Mat. xviii. 34. 2 Tim. i. 18. 1 John i. 9. James iii. 2. i Ps. li. 4. Rom. iii. 19. 75 See NOTE LXXV. any merits, or in any satisfaction, of our own; but in the free remission of our debts, which we are equally unable to deny and to clear. The attentive consideration, and sincere confession of these truths, are highly useful and necessary to produce in us that humility and that holy self-despair, without which we can neither participate of the Divine favour, nor flee to Christ as our refuge, nor build a firm and solid hope on his grace. Let this, therefore, be the prayer of the soul trembling before God at the sight of its offences: "I "have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou pre66 server of men." "k "Enter not into judgment with thy servant; for in thy sight shall no man living be. 'justified."1 66 66 XVI. Secondly, We ascribe this glory to God, that he can grant us the pardon of our sins in a manner that will reflect no discredit on any of his attributes, but on the contrary, afford a bright manifestation of them all. If one carefully consider the all-sufficiency of the Divine perfections according to that idea of the Supreme Being which is impressed by nature on our minds, he will possibly conclude, or at least conjecture, that it is not altogether beyond the range of possibility, that a just and holy God may be reconciled to a sinner. This hope is cherished by observing the Divine patience and long-suffering, by which he not only bears with sinners, but also invites them to seek his face. But that method of forgiving sin which alone is worthy of God, could never have been discovered by the utmost efforts of the human mind. And whilst that scheme is utterly unknown, it is hardly possible, that the mind k Job vii. 20. rom Rom. ii. 4. which weighs in a just balance the importance of so momentous a concern, could venture to entertain the firm expectation of pardon. Here the Gospel comes in to our relief, and shows to the anxious mind a plan in which conscience acquiesces as most worthy of God, and according to which he displays, in the forgiveness of sins, at once the inexorable rigour of his justice, and the incredible tenderness of his mercy; the guilt of our sins being transferred to the Surety, who has cheerfully fulfilled his engagements, and most completely freed himself and all his people from the guilt which he undertook to bear." This is the glory which, conformably to the doctrine of the Gospel, Christian faith ascribes to God when it says, I believe the forgiveness of sins. "Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the rem"nant of his heritage. He retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy." 66 66 XVII. Thirdly, But faith does not stop here. Assured that the forgiveness of sins is laid up in Christ, the believer betakes himself to him, that he may obtain for himself for his own salvation, that which is promised, as he learns from the Gospel, to all believers. "Let him return to the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will abundantly 66 66 pardon." And truly it is impossible for a man to believe that remission of sins is granted, which can be certainly found in the satisfaction and merits of Christ alone, without being inflamed at the same time with an ardent desire that himself may be blessed with the participation of so great a benefit, and without resolutely n Rom. iii. 24, 25, 26. o Mic. vii. 18. having recourse to the quarter where he cannot seek it in vain. “Knowing that a man is not justified by the "works of the law but by the faith of Jesus Christ, “even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ." "Surely shall "one say, In the LORD have I righteousness and strength. Even to him shall men come. - - In the "LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and “shall glory.” XVIII. Here it is necessary to stand greatly on our guard, that we may proceed in the right method. 1st, It behoves the sinner to be so convinced of his sins as to acknowledge them with the deepest grief, shame, and detestation, and even to confess that he is guilty of more than he is able to conceive. 2dly, Under the consciousness of his crimes, his soul must then tremble at the tribunal of God, the most righteous Judge, aware also that he is unable to sustain the Divine anger, and that neither himself nor any other mere creature in the universe, whether man or angel, can make satisfaction to that Divine justice, which he has so often offended. 3dly, Hence, whilst the soul is engaged in meditating on itself and on God, arise sorrow, contrition, and a certain holy despair of relief from itself, and from all other creatures; for these sacrifices are highly pleasing to God. 4thly, Let the man, besides, make a sincere, free, full, and affecting confession of his sins in the presence of God, and condemn himself beforehand, that God, beholding his ingenuity, may the more readily absolve him." 5thly, Let him, Ps. xxxii. 3, 4, 5. Prov. xxviii. 13. Luke xv. 18, 19. xviii. 13. next, with deep humility, and without the least reserve, surrender and resign himself to God, that he may do with him what is good in his eyes: Just as the servants of the king of Syria presented themselves to Ahab with sackcloth on their loins, and ropes on their heads, as if they surrendered themselves to disgrace, to imprisonment, to the halter itself. 6thly, Let him, in the mean time, pray with tears and unutterable groans, not once or twice merely, but by often reiterated supplications, beseeching and imploring, that if required to taste the bitterness of his sins, and to bear the rod of fatherly correction, he may not, however, be rebuked in wrath, nor punished in hot displeasure, but permitted at last to behold the face of his Father; and that some beam of continued favour may shine from his countenance through the cloud of his just indignation,-protesting that he is ready even to suffer death for the sake of so highly valued a privilege. 7thly, Relying by faith on the merits and intercession of Christ, let him, in fine, venture to hope for pardon, provided he sincerely promise that in future he will diligently watch against all iniquity, and be prepared to forgive the offences done him by his neighbour.a 76 XIX. Fourthly, After a man, proceeding in this manner, has by faith relied on Christ for obtaining forgiveness of sins, he advances by degrees to such holy confidence, that from sure and infallible signs, to which the secret testimony of the Divine Spirit is added, he concludes and professes, that now all his sins are for |