The Christians Daily Walk in Holy Security and Peace, Treatise · Chapter 16 · Section 2
SECTION 2. Removing falſe feare, riſing from thoughts of the greatneſſe of puniſhment and ſinne.
FIrſt, ſome in their fits of deſpaire, ſpeake almoſt in Cains words (ſaying) that theiraGen. 4. 14 puniſhment which they partly feele, and which they moſt of all feare, is greater than they can beare, or than can be forgiven.
I anſwer ſuch. If ſenſe and feare of wrath and puniſhment, be your trouble, I would haveFeare of puniſhmēt muſt be turned into trouble for ſinne. you not to buſie your thoughts about the puniſhment; but divert them and pitch them upon your ſinnes, which are the onelyonly cauſe of puniſhment, for, get your ſinnes off, and in one & the ſame worke you get off and free your ſelfe from the puniſhment. Labour therefore that your heart may bleed with godly ſorrow for ſin, cry out asbPſ. 51. 4, 5 David did againſt his ſinne, ſo doe you againſt yours, confeſſe them to GOD, ſtrike at the root of ſinne, at the ſinne of your nature, wherein you were conceived, aggravate your actuall ſinnes, hide none, ſpare none, finde out, arraigne, accuſe, condemne your ſinnes, and your ſelfe for them, grow firſt into utter deteſtation of your ſinnes, which have brought preſent puniſhment, and a ſenſe and feare of the eternall vengeance of hell fire; then likewiſe grow into a diſlike with your ſelfe for ſinne, cEzek. 36. 31.loath your ſelfe in your owne ſight for your iniquities, and for your abominations. Now when you are as a priſonerat the barre, who hath received ſentence of condemnation, when you are in your owne apprehenſion a damned wretch, fearing every day to be executed; Oh, then it concerneth you, and it is your partWhen the ſoule is troubled for ſin, fly to GOD for mercy and grace in Chriſt. and duty, to runne to GOD the King of Kings, whoſe name and nature is to forgive iniquity, tranſgreſſion, and ſinnes; and, that you may be accepted, goe to him by Ieſus Chriſt, whoſe Office is to take away your ſinnes, and to preſent you without ſinne to his father, whoſe Office is alſo to procure and ſue out your pardon. Wherefore in Chriſts name pray, and aske pardon of God, for his Sonne Ieſus Chriſts ſake, and withall bee as earneſt in asking grace and power againſt your ſinne, that you may ſerve him in all well-pleaſing. Doe this as for your life, with all truth and earneſtneſſe; then you may, nay, muſt beleeve that God for Chriſts ſake hath pardoned your ſinne, and hath done away the puniſhment of your ſinne. For this is according to the Word of Truth, even as true as God is, who hath Commanded you to doe thus, and to beleeve in him.
But ſome will Reply, this puttingReply. me unto a conſideration of my ſinnes, breedes all my woe, and feare, for I finde them greater and more than can be pardoned.
Oh; Say not ſo, for you canAnſw. hardly commit a greater ſinne than indeed to thinke and to ſay ſo. It is blasphemy againſt GOD: yet this ſinne (if you will follow GODS Counſell) and all other may, and ſhall be pardoned. I intend not to extenuate and leſſen your ſinne; but you muſt give me leave to magnifie Gods truth and mercy, and to extoll Christs love and merit. Howſoever it isReaſons proving that ſinne cannot be nupardonable, becauſe of the greatneſſe therof. true, that becauſe ſinne is a tranſgreſſion of a law of infinite holineſſe and equity, & in reſpect of the evil diſpoſition of the heart, is of infinite intention, & would perpetuate it ſelfe infinitely, if it had time and meanes; and becauſe God the object, and Perſon againſt whom ſinne is committed is infinite, therefore ſinne muſt needes contract an infinite guilt, and deſerve infinite puniſhment; which the very leaſt ſinne doth: yet, becauſe the ſubiect of ſinne, the man that ſinneth, is finite, his ſinne, being the erring act of a creature, cannot every way be infinite. Wherefore ſuch an act, or tranſgreſſion, cannot in it ſelfe be unpardonable by a Creator, a God, who is every way infinite.
Secōndly, Conſider that the price to ſatisfie GODS juſtice, namely, the death of CHRIST, even f1 Pet. 1. 19the precious gAct. 20. 28bloud of God, the onelyonly begotten Sonne of God, doth exceed all ſinne in infiniteneſſe of ſatisfaction of GODS juſtice and wrath due for ſinne. For if Christs death be a ſufficient ranſome for the ſinnes of all Gods Elect in generall; then much more of thine in particular, whoſoever thou be, and how great, and how many ſins ſoever thou haſt committed.
Thirdly, Know that the mercy of God, the forgiver of ſinnes, is abſolutely and every way infinite. For mercy in God is not a qualitie. but is his very nature, as is cleare by the deſcription ofExod. 34. 6. his Name, proclaimed, Exod. 34. Which rightly underſtood and beleeved, taketh away all the objections, which a fearefull heart can make againſt himſelfe, from the conſideration of his ſinnes.
Firſt, He is mercifull, that is, he is compaſſionate, (and to ſpeake after the manner of man) is one that hath bowels of pittie, which yerne within him at the beholding of thy miſeries, not willing to puniſh and put thee to paine, but ready to ſuccor and doe thee good.
But I am ſo vile, and ſo ill deſerving,Reply. that there is nothing in mee to move him to pittie mee and doe me good.
2. Hee is Gracious, whom heAnſw. Hoſ. 14. 4. loveth, hee loveth freely, of his owne gracious diſpoſition, who ſaith, I, even I, am hee that blotteth Iſa. 43. 25.out thy tranſgreſſions for mine owne ſake, and will not remember thy ſinnes. And when God ſaith hee would ſprinkle cleare water upon ſinners, and that hee would give them a new heart, &c. hee ſaith, not for your ſakes doe I this, Ezek. 36. 25, 26. 32.ſaith the Lord God. That you ſhould be ſenſible of your owne miſery, and then, in the ſenſe thereof, that God may be *Ezek. 36. 37enquired after and ſought unto for mercy, is al which he looketh for in you to move him to pitty and mercy, and ſuch is his graciouſnes, that he will worke this ſenſe and this deſire in you, that he may have mercy.
But I have a long time prouokedReply. him.
3. He is long-ſuffering to youwards,Anſw. a2 Pet. 3. 9. 15.n̄ot willing that you ſhould periſh, but that you ſhould come to repentance, but waiteth ſtill for your repentance, and reformation, that you may be ſaved.
Yea, But I am deſtitute of allReply. goodneſſe and grace to turne unto him, or doe any thing that may pleaſe him.
4. He is abundant in goodneſſe, Anſw.and kindneſſe, he that hath beene abundant towards others heretofore in giving them grace, and making them good, his ſtore is no whit diminiſhed, but he hath all grace and goodneſſe to communicate to you alſo, & to make you good.
Yea, but I feare, though God can, yet God will not forgive me, and give me grace.Reply. Anſw.
5. Hee is abundant in truth, not onelyonly the goodneſſe of his gracious diſpoſition maketh him willing, but the abundance of his truth bindeth him to bee willing, and doth give proofe unto you that he is willing. He hath made ſure promiſes to take away your ſinne, and to forgive it; and not yours onelyonly, but reſerveth merciemercy for thouſands. Beleeve therefore that God both can and will forgive you.
Yea, but my ſinnes are ſuch, andReply. ſuch, and ſuch, bred at the bone, …numerable, hainous, and moſt …ominable. I am guilty of ſins … all ſorts.
6. He forgiveth iniquity, tranſ…eſſion, Anſw.and ſinne. He is the God …hat will ſubdue bMic. 7. 19all your ini…uities, and caſt all your ſinnes …to the bottome of the Sea.
Yea, but I renew my ſins daily.Reply.
7. I anſwer out of the Pſalm His mercy is an everlasting merciemercy; his mercy endureth for everAnſw. Pſa. 118. 1. Mat. 6. 11. He biddeth you to aske forgiveneſſe of ſinne daily; therefore h… can and will forgive ſinne daily yea, if you ſinne hLuk 17. 4Mat. 18. 22Seventie time ſeven in a day, and ſhall confeſſ it to God with a penitent heart he will forgive; for he that biddeth you be ſo mercifull to you brother, will himſelfe forgive much more, when you ſeeke unto him.
I, But I have not onelyonly committedReply. open and groſſe ſinnes both before & ſince I had knowledge of GOD; but I have been a very Hypocrite, making profeſſion of GOD, and yet daily commit grievous ſinnes againſt him:
8. What then? Will you ſayAnſw. your ſinnes are unpardonable God forbid. But ſay, I will follow the Counſell which GOD gave to ſuch abominable Hypocrites. I will waſh mee and make me cleane. I will by Gods grace waſh my heart from iniquitie, and Iſa 1 16. Ier. 4. 14.my hands from wickedneſſe, by waſhing my ſelfe in the Laver of regeneration, bathing myſelfe in Chriſts bloud and in the pure water of the Word of truth, applying my ſelfe to them, and them to me by faith. Say in this caſe, I will heare what God will ſpeake: Pſa. 85. 8.And know, that if you will follow his counſell, Iſa. 1 18. If you wil hearken to his reaſoning and embrace his gracious offer made to you in Chriſt Ieſus, theIſa. 1. 18. iſſue will be this, though your ſins have beene moſt groſſe, reiterated, double dyed, even as crimſon and ſear let; they ſhall be as wooll, even as white as ſnow. God will then ſpeak peace unto you, as unto other his Saints; onelyonly he will forbidSinnes before and after converſion pardonable. you to returne to folly.
For not onelyonly thoſe which committed groſſe ſins through ignorance before their converſion, as did Abraham in Idolatry, and S. Paul in perſecuting; no… yet onelyonly thoſe which committed groſſe ſinnes through infirmitie after their converſion, as did iGen. 9. 21Noah by drunkenneſſe, and kGen. 19 33Lot by inceſt alſo, and lMat. 26. 47Peter by denying and forſwearing his Maſter Chriſt Ieſus, obtained mercy, becauſe they ſinned ignorantly and of infirmity: But alſo thoſe that ſinned againſt Knowledge and Conſcience, both before & after converſion, ſinning with an high hand, as *2 Chron. 33. 6. 10 12, 13Manaſſes before, and (in the matter of m1 Kin. 15 5Vriah) David after converſion, they obtained like mercy, and had all their ſinnes forgiven. Why are theſe examples recorded in Scripture, but for patterns to ſinners, yea, to moſt notorious ſinners of all ſorts, n1 Tim. 1. 15, 16Which ſhould in after times beleeve in Chriſt Ieſus unto eternall life?
Be willing therfore to be beholholding to God for forgivenes, & beleeve in Chriſt for forgivenes, which when you doe, you may be aſſured that you never yet committed any ſin which is not, and which ſhal not be forgiven.
For was it not the end, why Chriſt came into the world, that he might ſave ſinners, yea o1 Tim. 1. 15, 16chiefe of ſinners as well as others? Was he not wounded for pIſa 53. 5.tranſgreſſions, viz. of all ſorts? Is it not the end of his comming in his Goſpell to call qLuk 5. 32ſinners to repentance? What ſinners doth hee meane there, but ſuch as you are, who are laden and burdened with your ſinne? Doth hee not ſay, r1 Ioh. 2. 1if any man ſinne, marke▪ if any man, we have an advocate with the Father, Ieſus Chriſt the righteous. Who by being made sCol. 3. 13a curſe for you, hath redeemed you from the curſe of the whole Law. Therfore from the curſe due unto you for your greatest ſinne. Conſider this againe, can the ſinne of a finite creature goe beyond the pardon of an infinite Creator? Can a ſinne in ſome ſenſe finite, deſerve beyond the ſatisfaction of a price for value every way infinite?
Howſoever it is impoſſible for a notorious ſinner, yea, for any ſinner, by his owne power or worth to enter into the kingdome of Heaven; Yet, know, what is tMat. 19. 26impoſſible with man, is poſſible with God. uGen. 18. 14.Is any thing too hard for the Lord? Hee can alter, and renew you, and give you faith and repentance, he can make theſe things poſſible to you that beleeve: yea, xMar. 9. 23all things are poſſible to him that beleeveth.
I, you will ſay, if I did beleeve. Reply.Why, what if yet you doe not beleeve? It is not hard with him, you comming to his meanes of faith, you harkening to the precepts and promiſes of the Word, conſidering that the God of truth ſpeaketh in them, I ſay, it is not hard for him in the uſe of theſe meanes to cauſe you to beleeve.
Wherefore neither greatneſſe of ſinne, nor multitude of ſinnes ſhould, becauſe of their greatnes and multitude, make you utterly deſpaire of ſalvation, or feare Damnation; When once you can beleeve, or but aIſa. 1. …9.will and deſire to obey & beleeve, the greateſt matter of feare is paſt.
I know if you never had ſinned, you would not feare damnation. Now to a man whoſe ſinnes are remitted, his ſinnes (though *Rom. 7. 20ſin dwell in him) are as if they were not, or never had beene, For they are blotted out of Gods remembrance. I, even I am he (ſaith God) bIſa. 43. 25.that blot out thy tranſgreſſions for my names ſake, and will not remember thy ſinnes. And who is like thee (ſaith the Prophet) cMicah. 7. 18, 19.that pardoneth iniquitie, &c. hee will have compaſſion upon us, he will ſubdue our iniquities, and will caſt all our ſinnes into the bottome of the Sea. A debt when it is paid by the Surety, putteth the principall out of debt, though he payd never a peny of it. The holy Ghoſt ſpeaketh moſt comfortably, ſaying, that God doth finde no ſinne Rev. 14. 5.in them whoſe ſinnes are pardoned. dIer. 50. 20In thoſe dayes, and at that time ſaith the Lord, the iniquitie of Iſrael ſhall be ſought for, and there ſhall be none; and the ſinnes of Iudah, and they ſhall not be found; but how may this be, he giveth the reaſon, for I will pardon them whom I reſerve.
If you beleeve that God can pardon any ſinne, even the leaſt, you have like reaſon to beleeve that God can pardon all, yea the greateſt; for if God can doe any thing, he can doe every thing, becauſe he is infinite. He can as eaſily ſay, eMat. …. 5thy ſinnes are forgiven thee, all thy ſinnes are forgiven thee, as to ſay, Riſe and walke. He can as wel ſave one that hath beene long dead, rotten, and ſtinking in his ſinne, as one newly fallen into ſinne. For he can as eaſily ſay, fIoh. 11. 4… ▪Lazarus come forth, as to ſay, gMar. 5. 4.Damſell I ſay to thee Ariſe.
Laſtly, to make an end of removing this fear, I ask thee who art troubled with the greatneſſe of thy ſinnes paſt, and with feare that they can never be pardoned, how ſtand you affected to preſent ſinnes? Doe you hate and loath them? Doe you uſe what meanes you can to be rid of them? Are you out of love with your ſelfe, and humbled becauſe you have harboured them to GODS diſhonour, and your owne hurt? And doe you reſolve to Ezek. 18 21, 2…returne from your evill wayes, and to enter upon an holy courſe of life, if God ſhall pleaſe to enable you, and is it your heartie deſire to have this grace to be able? And are you afraid, and have you now a care leſt you fall wittingly into ſinne; then let Satan, and a fearefull heart object what they can, you may ſay, though my ſinnes have beene great and hainous, for which I loath my ſelfe Ezek. 36. 25. to 33.and am aſhamed, yet now I ſee that they were not onelyonly pardonable, but are already through the rich mercy of God pardoned. For theſe are ſignes of a new heart and a new minde. Now to whomſoever GOD giveth the leaſt meaſure of ſaving grace, to them hath he firſt given pardon of ſinne, and will yet abundantly pardon. For he ſaith, kIſa. 55. 7.Let the wicked forſake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him returne to the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.