Lectures Upon Psalm 51, Part 2 · Lecture 18
Lecture XVIII. On Psal. 51.1, 2. March 7. 1625.
FOlloweth the second use of the former Doctrine,Vse 2. and that is for exhortation, to perswade, and stirre us all up, to do as David doth heere, even to seeke for the pardon of our sinnes, and to seeke for it as he doth heere; that is, 1. To seeke it above all other things, and to make it our onelyonly suit as David doth heere; and as the Publican when he went to pray begged nothing els, but this, Luk. 18.13. Lord be mercifull to me a sinner. 2. Seeke without delay to have this debt discharged; as Solomon adviseth the man who is in danger for debt discharged; as Solomon adviseth the man who is in danger for debt even to mortall man, Pro. 6.4, 5. Give no sleepe to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids deliver thy selfe as a Roe from the hand of the hunter. 3. Seek it not coldly, and faintly but earnestly, and with all thy might; as David heere, and Psal. 27.4. One thing have I desired of the Lord, and that will I seeke after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the daies of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord; that is, his mercy, his chearefull, and favourable countenance towards me, as Psal. 90 17. Let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us.
Now for the better enforcing of this exhortation. I will first give you certaine motives to perswade you to seeke for your pardon. 2. I will shew you the meanes how you may obtaine it. 3. I will give you certaine signes, and notes whereby you may know, whether you have obtained it or no.
And for the motives to stirre us up to seeke, and sue out our pardon, 1 Some of them have reference to the pardon it selfe;1 Sort of Motives and 2 Some to us that are to seeke and sue for it.
First, this pardon may be gotten. If sinnes could have no hope to get the pardon of their sinnes, they could have no incouragement to seeke it; but as Shec…niah saith to Ezra, Ezra 10.2 there is hope in Israel concerning this thing. There is not any sinner amongst us all (how many or heinous soe…e… his sinnes have beene) but he may have hope to obtaine the pardon of his sinnes if he seeke it aright. For this we have his word that cannot deceive us, Mat. 12.31. I say unto you all manner of sinne, and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men. Matth. 18.27. The Lord of that servant (that ought ten thousand talents) was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. And though it be said of him that sinneth against the Holy Ghost, Matth. 12.32. that it shall not be forgiven him neither in this world, nor in the world to come; yet the reason thereof is not because God cannot, or will not forgive so heinous as a sinne, but because he that is gone so farre cannot returne to God, and seeke his pardon, Heb. 6.6. It is impossible he should be renowned againe unto repentance. And this motive to seeke for our pardon we have given us, Esa. 55.7. Let the wicked returne unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God for he will abundantly pardon.
Secondly, this pardon is worth the getting, and seeking for. For 1. It is full and generall, and giveth us a discharge not onelyonly from our sinnes, but from the whole punishment due to us for them; not from such sinnes onelyonly, a… are knowne to us, and we have beene able particularly to repent of, but from all our sinnes knowne, and unknowne. So that when once we have gotten our pardon, for one sin, we have gotten the pardon of all, originall, and a small, smaller, and greater, knowne, and unknowne. Esa. 55.7. He doth abundantly pardon. So that as Christ never cared any but he made them perfectly, and every whit whole, Ioh. 7.23. so is it said of him that he is able to save them to the uttermost, that come unto God by him, Heb. 7.25. Whom he once washeth, and cleanseth, he maketh them so cleane that he leaveth no filth, no staine nor spot upon them, Esa. 1.18. Though your sinnes be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow, though they be red like crimson they shall be as wooll, that never received any dye. Thus doth God account of them, that are once pardoned, Cant. 4.7. Thou art all faire my love, there is no spot in thee. All Gods acquittances are generall, not as mens onelyonly from the beginning of the world to that day that the acquittance is made, but from the beginning of the world to the end of it. When he pardoneth, he pardoneth not sins past onelyonly, but even those that are future have a ground of pardon in it, Psal. 103.17. The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that feare him. And Ioh. 13.10. He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is cleane every whit. 2. This pardon where it is once given, can never be revoked or canceled againe. He forgiveth not as man doth but when he forgiveth our sinnes he forgetteth them also, Ier. 31.34. I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sinnes no more. To this mercy that belongeth which the Lord speaketh, Hos. 13.14. Repentance shall be hid from mine eyes. Whom God hath once pardoned he never so forsaketh that they shall quite loose his favour againe, Psal. 37.28. The Lord forsaketh not his Saints, they are preserved for ever. Therefore we are but once baptized, and brought to the laver of regeneration, Tit. 3.5. 3. This pardon sets us in as good state before God as if we had never sinned, so as he thinketh never the worse of us for any sinne, we have committed when once we have our pardon. Nay we become much more deare unto him then if we had never sinned. As we see in the case of the Prodigall, whose father shewed much more kindnesse unto and delight in him, then in his elder brother, Luk. 15.32. And in the kind respect, our Saviour shewed to Mary Magdalen, Mar. 16.9. Hee appeared first to her out of whom he had cast seven divels. And to Peter, Mar. 16.7. more then to any Disciple that ever he had. And this second motive, which hath reference to the fullnesse of this pardon, incouraged and moved David heere to seeke it so earnestly, as we may see verse 7. Wash me, and I shall be whiter then snow.
Now for the second sort of motives which have reference to our selves; if we respect our own selves,2 Sort of Motives there is great cause that we should above all things speedily seeke for the pardon our sins.
First, In respect had to our death. For if death should seize upon us, before we have gotten our pardon our case were desperate, and irrecoverable. If pardon be not gotten before, it will never be gotten. To him that is living there is hope (saith Solomon, Eccl. 9.4.) for a living dog is better then a dead lyon. And Eccl. 11.3. In the place where the tree falleth there it shall be, there it lieth, and will continue for ever. If a man obtaine not his acquittance, and discharge of his debt before he dieth, there is no way but one with him, to prison must he go, into that dungeon must he be cast, whence hee shall never get out till hee have paid the uttermost farthing, as our Saviour speaketh in another case, Matth. 5.26. With such men hell followed death at the heeles, Rev. 6.8. The rich man (so soone as he was dead) went into the torments of hell, Luke 16.22, 23. Now how soone, or how suddenly death may seaze upon us none of us can tell; All men lye not long sicke before they dye; nor are sicke at all, Eccl. 9.12. Man knoweth not his time; as the fishes that are taken in an evill net, & as the birds that are caught in the snare (while they are playing, and skipping and earing merrily) so are the sonnes of men snared in an evill time, when it falleth suddenly on them. In which respect they that have not their sinnes pardoned, must needs live in a continuall feare of death, whensoever they thinke seriously upon it. As the Apostle saith, Heb. 2.15. Christ came to deliver them who through feare of death were all their life time subject to bondage. Whereas the man that hath gotten his pardon need not feare death at all, but may die in peace, and say with Simeon, Luke 2.29. Now Lord lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seene thy salvation. Yea may even looke him in the face when he commeth, and insult over him as 1 Cor. 15.55. O death where is thy sting?
Secondly, In respect had to the afflictions of this life. For 1. Till our sins be pardoned, there is no judgement we see or heare of, but we have cause to feare it, and to live continually in a certaine fearefall expectation of judgement, as the Apostle speaketh. Heb. 10.27. We have cause to looke for the curse of God in our selves, and in our children, and in our goods, and in our good name; in our bodies, and in our minds. For so hath God threatned by Moses, Deut. 28.19. If thou wilt not observe to doe all his commandements, and his statutes, all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee. 2. Till our sins be pardoned, every affliction and judgement that doth befall us, will be intollerable unto us, will vexe and disquiet us, so as we can with no patience, and comfort beare it. Sin is like unto old age, that maketh a man so weake, as even the grashopper will be a burden unto him, as Solomon speaketh, Ecclesiast. 12.5. Or like a bile upon a mans backe or shoulder, that maketh him unable to beare any thing. This is the true cause of mens extreame impatience in every affliction; not the burden or extreamity of the affliction so much, as their owne galled backs, the biles, and sores that they have upon themselves, their owne sins that are unpardoned, and unsubdued in them. And that which the Apostle speaketh of death, 1. Cor. 15.56. the sting of death is sin, may be said of every affliction, and crosse, sin is the only thing that maketh it sting, and paine us so much as it doth. Whereas on the other side, when once we have gotten our pardon. 1. We may be secure, and void of the slavish feare of Gods judgements before they come. As David when he had lifted up the light of his countenance upon him saith, Psal. 4.8. I will both lay me downe in peace, and sleep; and 91.5, 6. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terrour by night, nor for the arrow that flyeth by day, nor for the pestilence that walketh in darknesse, nor for the destruction that w…isteth at noone day. 2. When judgements and crosses doe come, we shall be able to beare them with patience and comfort, Prov. 18.14. The spirit of a man will sustaine his infirmitie. Rom. 5.1. Being justified by faith, wee have peace with God. And then followeth verse 3. wee glory in tribulations also.
The third and last motive, is from the respect had to the comforts we enjoy, and desire to enjoy in this life. For 1. Till our sins be pardoned, we can have no assurance to obtaine of God any of the good things of this life. Esa. 59.2. Your iniquities have separated betweene you and your God, and your sinnes have hid his face from you, that he will not heare. 2. Till our sins be pardoned, we can have no sound comfort in any of these blessings that we doe enjoy, for we have them with Gods curse. VntoUnto them that are defiled, and unbelieving (saith the Apostle, Titus 1.15.) is nothing pure Pro. 1 32. The prosperitie of fooles shall destroy them. 3. Till our sins be pardoned, nothing that we doe can please God, Heb. 11.6. Without faith it is impossible to please God. 4. Till our sins be pardoned, there can be no grace, nor goodnesse in us, Ezek. 36.25. I will sprinkle cleane water upon you, and ye shall be cleane from all your filthinesse; then followeth verse 26. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you, and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and give you a heart of flesh; and verse 27. I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walke in my statutes.
And these five motives are in themselves effectuall, and forcible enough to worke in every one of us, a care to seeke, and sue for the pardon of our sins, and to seeke it earnestly, and to seeke it speedily, if God shall be pleased to worke with them. For that is an undoubted truth, confirmed by infinite examples, in dayly experience, which our Saviour teacheth, Iohn 6.44. No man can come to me, except my Father draw him. And I may say to you, as he doth in the next verse 45. Every one therefore that hath heard these things, and hath learned of the Father, will come to Christ (the only purchaser, and disposer of Gods pardons) to get his pardon
Meanes.And now having finished the motives, I come to shew you the meanes, how this pardon may be obtained; which is the second generall point I propounded for the enforcing of this exhortation. And the meanes we must use are principally foure.
First, The man that would obtaine of God the pardon for his sins, must first bring his heart to a sense of his sins; this is that, that prepareth a man, and maketh him capable of a pardon. Thou that hast lived the civillest life that a man can lead, till thou canst bring thy heart to be troubled, and pained with feare, and heavinesse for thy sins; canst have no hope to get thy pardon. Christ promiseth refreshing (nor indeed calls, nor giveth incouragement to any to come to him, but) onelyonly to such as are weary, and heavy laden, Matth. 11.28. And he prosesseth that he was sent to proclaime the Lords Iubile, and time of generall pardon, and release to none, but to the broken hearted, and mourners, Esay 61.1, 3. And comparing himselfe to a good shepheard, he saith, Ezechiel 34.16. his office was to binde up that which is broken, and strengthen that which was sicke, but to destroy the fat and the strong, and to feed them with judgement. For 1. None but such can heartily, and in good earnest seeke for their pardon, nor make any great account of it, Matth. 9.12. The whole have no need of a Physician, but they that be sicke. And God maketh more account of his pardons, then to cast them away upon such as care not greatly for them. 2. None but such can receive their pardon aright, nor beleeve it belongeth unto them, though Christ and his servants should offer it unto them, and perswade them to receive it. Marke 1.15. Repent ye▪ and beleeve the Gospel. But what repentance could that be that went before faith? Surely legall repentance, this which I now speake of.
The second meanes is prayer. The man that would obtaine of God, the pardon of his sins, must pray and cry to God importunatly for it; make it thy first and only suit▪ as if thou wouldst have no nay, nor crave any thing else, till thou hast obtained it. 1. So the Lord describeth the poore sinners that shall come to him for mercy and pardon. Ier. 3….9. They shall come with weeping and with supplications. 2. God hath himselfe directed us unto this course, Esa. 55.6. Seeke the Lord while he may be found, How shall that be? Call upon him while he is neare. 3. This is a sure way; for to it a promise is made, as we see in the case of the Publican Luke 18 …3. He went into the Temple to pray, and this was the whole summe and effect of his prayer, God be mercifull to me a sinner; and see the successe, verse 14. I tell you (saith our Saviour) this man went downe to his house justified, rather then the other; where by the word rather, we are not to understand, though neither of them were justified, yet of the two, this rather then the other, but that he went home justified, and not the other, as Iohn 3 19. Men loved darknesse, rather then light and not the light, and 1. Tim. 1.4. Endlesse genealogies minister questions rather then edifying, as if he had said, questions, and not edifying. 4. Another promise we have for this, Rom. 10.13. Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord, shall be saved. As if he should say, Whosoever can pray and cry to God for the pardon of his sins, shall be sure to obtaine it. 5. Alas (will you say) how can we pray till our sins be pardoned▪ and till wee have faith? Rom. 10.14. How can they call upon him, in whom they have not beleeved? I answer. 1. As there is a legall repentance, so there is a legall prayer, which though a man cannot have assurance that it shall speed, yet is it, as the legall repentance a good preparative to faith, and God hath beene pleased to shew respect unto it. Of such a prayer read Psalme 78.34. When he slew them, then they sought him; and returned, and enquired early after God. Did these men pray in faith? No verily, as we may see verse 37. for their heart was not upright with him. Yet had God a gracious respect, even to this prayer, verse 33. He being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not. 2. Men may have received some beginnings of true faith, and saving grace before they know, and perceive that their sins are pardoned, and such prayers are most acceptable to God, as we may see, Zac. 12.10. first God powred upon them the spirit of grace, and supplication ▪ they cryed unto God, and mourned for their sins, & then 13.1. the fountain was opened unto them for sin and for uncleannes, & God useth not to open this fountaine unto any, but unto such only.
The third means, is humble confession of our sins unto God. He that desires to obtaine pardon at Gods hands, must accuse and condemne himselfe before God, and judge himselfe unworthy of all mercy. He that commeth to God by prayer to beg his pardon, must come as Benhadads servants did, when they came to Ahab to crave mercy, 1 Kin. …0 32. they came with sackcloth on their loines, and ropes about their necks, as men professing themselves worthy to dye. In this manner came the prodigall to his father. Lu. 15.18, 19. Father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. In this manner the Publican prayed, and confessed his sins, Luk 18.13. He stood afarre off and would not lift up so much at his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast. As if he should have said, ô wretched heart of mine, Lord, I am unworthy, I am unworthy to find mercy. And you know what successe they both had, when they came in this manner to crave mercy, and how well they sped. And no marvell, for they that can come thus, have a promise, 1. Iohn 1.9 If we confesse our sins, God is faithfull, and just, to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousnesse. And Mat. 2….12. He that humbleth himselfe, shalbe exalted. The more we can accuse and condemne; vilifie, and abase our selves before God, the surer we may be, that he will justifie, and raise us up.
The fourth and last meanes to be used in this case, is faith in Christ. He that desireth to obtaine pardon of his sins, must not rest either upon the sense hee hath of his sins, or his prayer to God for the pardon of them, or his humbling himselfe in the confessing of them, but flye out of himselfe to Christ, rest upon him by faith, and looke to obtaine it only through his merit. By this meanes Gods people have ever obtained pardon. These are they (saith one of the Elders to Iohn, Revel. 7.1…) which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the bloud of the Lambe. Thus speakes our Saviour to Mary Magdalene, Lu. 7.50. Thy faith hath saved thee; as i… he should say, it is not thy teares, but they faith that hath obtained thy pardon, For 1. this is able to doe it. For it is the blood of Christ (and that only) that cleanseth us from all sin. 1 Iohn 1.7. That is the fountaine that i… opened to all Gods people (that are thus prepared, as you have heard) for sinne and for uncleannesse. 2. Nothing but this, is able to doe it Hebr 9.22. Without shedding of bloud, is no remission.
And thus having finished the means we must use to get our pardon. I come to shew you the signes how we may know whether we have gotten our pardon or no, which is the third & last point I propounded for the enforcing of this exhortation. A point of as great use and necessity as either of the former were.
For 1. In this case that proverb is fulfilled. Pro. 13.7. There is that maketh himselfe rich, and hath nothing, and there is that maketh himselfe poore, yet hath great riches. Many a wicked man is confident, that he hath cleared all in Gods debt-booke, his sins are pardoned, Mic 3.11. Yet will they leane upon the Lord and say, is not the Lord among us? And on the other side many a good man hath his pardon, & knowes not, nor can be assured that he hath it. It was so with David here. Nathan (upon his repentance) had told him 2 Sam 12.13. The Lord hath put away thy sin, thou shalt not dye, and yet could he not beleeve it, nor be assured of it; And therfore begs it here so earnestly. The elect Apostles had obtained their pardon when Christ said to them, Ioh 12.10. Ye are cleane And yet Christ taught them to pray daily, Lu. 11.4. Forgive us our sins, the best had need daily to seeke for more assurance, that they have it.
Yea, 2. It is a matter of great difficulty to be assured of it. Therfore God bindeth this promise with an oath. Esa 54.9. As I have sworne that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth, so have I sworn that I wil not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. Therfore hath Christ annexed a reason to be a prop… to our faith in the fift petition, Mat. 6.12. and to none of the rest. Many of Gods dearest servants find little assurance of the pardon of their sins, and they that have had it in great measure, yet have not had it at all times. See how comfortable, a…d confident David was at sometimes, Psal 27.1. The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall …re? At another time he was farre otherwise, Psal. 88.1…, 15. Lord why …stest thou off my soule? Why hidest thou thy face from mee? While I suffer thy terrors, I am distracted. So Paul somtimes was most assured, Rom 8 38, 39. I am perswaded that neither death, nor life, nor Angels nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor h…ight, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Iesus Christ our Lord. Sometimes againe he had his inward terrours and feares, 2. Chr. 7.5. and was perplexed greatly, 2. Cor. 4.8. And this ariseth.
First, From the weakenesse of faith, that is in the best; and slownesse to beliefe that is in us all by nature. They were beleevers to whom Christ said, Luke 24 25 O fooles, and slow of heart to beleeve. The greatnesse and strangenesse of the blessing, doth even astonish, and amaze them so, as they cannot be perswaded God should shew mercy to such wretches, as they know themselves to have beene. As it is said of the Apostles when Christ appeared to them, first after his resurrection, Luke 24.41 They beleeved not for joy, and wondered. And Peter when hee was brought out of prison by the Angell, Acts 12 9 Wist not that it was true that was done by the Angell, but thought it was but a vision.
Secondly, Sometimes from the violence of tentation. For the faithfull are compared to bruised reedes, Matth. 12.20. and tentations are compared to Winds, and Tempests, Matth 7 5. now a reede (specially a bruise I reede) is easily shaken with the Winde, Matthew 11.7. and if we had not a gracious promise of Christ, Matthew 17.25. A bruised reede shall hee not breake, it were not possible but the strength and violence of the tentations the faithfull are subject to, would quite overthrow their faith. It was tentation that deprived …ob of his assurance, and made him cry, Iob 16.9 He teareth mee in his wrath, who hateth mee; hee gnasheth upon me with his teeth, mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me. It was tentation that deprived David of his assurance when he cryed, Psal. 22.1. My God, my God why hast thou forsaken me?
Thirdly, Sometimes from this that they kept their pardon no better. That whereas once they had it so faire written, and in such Capitall letters that they could hauehave runne, and read it, now through their carelesnesse, and sensuality they have so soiled it, that they cannot reade it. So did the Church loose her assurance. Cant. 5 6. Her beloved had withdrawne himselfe, and was gone. Her sensualitie was the cause of it as you may see, verse 3. In her answer unto Christ. I have put off my coat, how shall I put it on? I hauehave washed my feet, how shall I defile them?
Yet as we hauehave shewed before that our pardon may be obtained, so may we even in this life know and be assured, that wee are pardoned, a…d clensed from all our sinnes, Iob was assured of his salvation, and consequently that his sinnes were forgiven, Iob 19.25. I know that my redeemer liveth: whom I shall see for my selfe. And Paul speaketh thus of all the faithfull, Rom. 5.11. Not only so (we are not onelyonly reconciled to God, and shall be saved) but we also joy in God through our Lord Iesus Christ, by whom wee have now received the atonement. And indeed, though our sins be pardoned, yet unlesse we know they be pardoned, we can have no sound comfort nor joy. That maketh David cry thus to God, Psalm. 35.3. Say unto my soule; I am thy salvation: as if he had sayd. Let mee know it Lord, and Psalme 51.8. Make mee to heare joy and gladnesse. As if hee had sayd, Nathan hath told mee so, but I cannot heare and believe what he saith, Lord make thou me to heare it, then I shall have joy a…d gladnesse, and never till then.
This is therefore a matter worth the hearkening unto, how we may know our sins are pardoned. How may that be knowne?
I answer 1. Wee may not bee our owne judges in this case, Prov. 28.26. Hee that trusteth in his owne heart is a foole. Prov. 30.12. There is a generation that are pure in their owne eyes, and yet they are not washed from their filthinesse.
2. The Lord only by his word must be judge in this case; that even as it was under the Law, no man that had bin a Leper himselfe, or whose house was infected with leprosie, might judge himselfe or his house to be clean, till the Priest (who was a type of Christ) by the mark God himselfe had given, had pronounced them to be cleane, Levit. 13.37. The Priest shall pronounce him cleane. And therefore Christ when he had clensed the lepers, bad them Lu 17 14. Goe shew your selves to the Priest. Even so may no man judge himselfe to be cleane from his sins, till he be such a one as God in his word hath pronounced to be cleane. And these notes and markes are principally foure.Signes.
First, If a man came by his pardon that way, and by those foure meanes that you have heard of. Examine therefore your hearts that thinke ye are sure your sins are forgiven.Applic: How came you by this assurance? Did God so prepare you by an effectuall sight, and sense of sin, and of your wretched, and damnable condition by reason thereof? Was thy heart thereby brought to cry fervently unto God for thy pardon? Wert thou made able humbly, and freely, and particularly to confesse thy sins, to accuse, and condemne thy selfe before God? Wert thou brought thereby to despaire of all helpe and comfort any way els, but only in Christ, and so to flye to him to obtaine thy pardon? Then mayest thou have good hope that thy sins are pardoned.
Secondly, If a man feele himselfe to be sanctified, and changed by the spirit of Christ, then may he be sure he is justified, and washed from his sins, by the bloud of Christ. Where God pardoneth sin, there he subdueth, and destroyeth the power of it Micah. 7.18, 19. When he had said, Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity: he addeth, hee will have compassion upon us, he will subdue our iniquities, Rom. 6.14. Sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under the Law, but under grace. When Christ hath once procured for a man the pardon of his sin, he turneth the heart quite from it, and worketh in him such a change, as he becommeth another man, Acts 3.26. God hath sent his Sonne to blesse you, in turning every one of you from your iniquities. See some examples, and experiments of this. What a marvellous change was wrought in those converts of Ephesus, that had used curious arts? after God had pardoned their sins, they did so hate that sin that they had lived in, that they burnt the books that had bin the meanes, and instruments of that sin, though they came to the value of 15000 pieces of silver, which was at the least eight hundred pounds sterling. Acts 19.19. So after Peters sin of denying Christ for feare, was pardodoned: what a change was wrought in him? None of all the Apostles so bold in confessing Christ, afterwards as he was Acts 2.14.3.12.4.8. So when Pauls sin of hating and persecuting of the Saints was pardoned; never did any of Gods servants shew that love to the Saints that hee did. See how many hee sends speciall salutations to, and in how kind a manner, Rom. 16. See in what termes hee expresseth his affections to the Saints oft times, Phil. 4.1. My brethren dearely beloved, and longed for, my joy, and Crowne. And Philem. 12. He calls Onesimus a poore servant his owne bowells. Yea, where sinne is pardoned, not the outward man onelyonly, but the very heart is changed. Ezechiel 36.25—27. Then will I sprinckle cleane water upon you, and yee shall bee cleane from all your filthinesse. A new heart also will I give you, and I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walke in my statutes.
Thou therefore that art perswaded thy foule sinnes are pardoned,Applic. try it by this note. Is thy heart now quite turned from these sinnes, that above all other thou now hatest them most; art most afraid of them, shunnest the beginnings, and occasions of them? Yea thou that hast beene the civilest man, dost thou find a change wrought in thee, a new heart given thee? Then thou mayst have a comfortable assurance that thou hast indeed obtained thy pardon.
Thirdly, if a man feele that the knowledge of Gods love in pardoning his sin hath wrought in his heart a true love to God, and that the change I told you of proceedeth from his love to God: This note thou shalt find given by our Saviour, Luke 7.47. Her sinnes which are many are forgiven her, for shee loved much. This property of a man whose sinnes are pardoned you shall see in David, Psal. 116.1. I love the Lord because he hath heard my voice, and my supplication; And what was his supplication? Even for pardon of his sinne as you shall see ver. 3, 4. The sorrowes of death compassed me, the paines of bell gat hold on me, I found trouble, and sorrow; then called I upon the name of the Lord, O Lord deliver my soule. And in Peter whom when Christ would comfort, and assure that his sin was pardoned, by what note doth he labour to assure him of it? Iob. 21 15. Simon thou sonne of Iona lovest thou me more then these? For indeed no man can love the Lord, and obey him out of love, but he that first is perswaded of Gods love to him in the pardon of his sinnes, 1 Ioh. 4.10. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that hee loved us; and sent his Sonne to be the propitiation for our sins.
Hast thou no love to God,Applic. to his Word, and servants? Dost thou all that thou dost in his service out of by-respects? Flatter not thy selfe thy sinnes are not pardoned.
Fourthly, If the love that we beare to God for the pardoning of our sinnes, can make us unfainedly willing to forgive all men even those that have most wronged us. This note is given with great earnestnesse, and asseveration by our blessed Saviour, not onelyonly in the fift petition, Mat. 6.12. but immediately after the end of the whole prayer, Mat. 6.14, 15. For if yee forgive men your heavenly father will forgive you, if ye forgive not men neither will your father forgive you.
Canst thou not forgive thy greatest enemies?Applic. Strivest thou not against the motions to revenge, and malice? Art thou not humbled for them? Certainely thy sinnes are not yet pardoned, thou art still in thy sinnes. An hypocrite can give much, and doe many kindnesses to them that never wronged him. A man may bestow all his goods to feed the poore, and yet not have charity. 1 Cor. 13.3. Luke 6.32, 33. If you love them that love you, and doe good to them that doe good to you, what thanke have ye? For sinners also do the same. But out of love to God to forgive them that have wronged us, and love our enemies, that argueth a mans sins are pardoned.